Neurobiological Correlates in Internet Gaming Disorder: A Systematic Literature Review

Internet use-related addiction problems are increasingly being recognized on a European scale due to international health organizations considering gaming addiction. In April 2013, the American Psychiatric Association recognized Internet Gaming Disorder in the fifth Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, and in April 2018, the World Health Organization included Gaming Disorder in the eleventh International Classification of Diseases. However, findings on these problems within this period are lacking in Europe, and a preventive approach is missing globally. A detailed critical literature review was conducted using PsycINFO and Web of Science in this five-year period. A total of 19 studies were reviewed and problems identified were: generalized Internet addiction and online gaming and gambling addictions across seven European countries (i.e., Spain, Germany, France, Italy, Greece, The Netherlands, and Denmark). The individuals with problematic use were found to be educated adolescents, usually young males with comorbid disorders, and gaming and gambling disorders were implicated in the most severe cases. Cognitive behavioral therapy was the main treatment, sometimes combined with a systemic approach for adolescents. Prevalence, high-risk populations, and factors contributing to these addiction problems are discussed, and a set of policy options are developed for this region. The implications for early detection, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention in Europe are considered.

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Evidence on Problematic Online Gaming and Social Anxiety over the Past Ten Years: a Systematic Literature Review

Current Addiction Reports ◽

10.1007/s40429-021-00406-3 ◽

2022 ◽

Author(s):

Francesca Gioia ◽

Gianluca Mariano Colella ◽

Valentina Boursier

Keyword(s):

Social Anxiety ◽

Literature Review ◽

Strong Association ◽

Internet Gaming Disorder ◽

Online Gaming ◽

Gaming Disorder ◽

Internet Gaming ◽

Keywords Internet ◽

Problematic Online Gaming ◽

Online Video Games

Abstract Purpose of Review The present study aimed to review the literature concerning the relationship between problematic online gaming (POG) and social anxiety, taking into account the variables implicated in this relationship. This review included studies published between 2010 and 2020 that were indexed in major databases with the following keywords: Internet gaming, disorder, addiction, problematic, social phobia, and social anxiety. Recent Findings In recent years, scientific interest in POG has grown dramatically. Within this prolific research field, difficulties associated with social anxiety have been increasingly explored in relation to POG. Indeed, evidence showed that individuals who experience social anxiety are more exposed to the risk of developing an excessive or addictive gaming behavior. Summary A total of 30 studies satisfied the initial inclusion criteria and were included in the present literature review. Several reviewed studies found a strong association between social anxiety and online gaming disorder. Furthermore, the relationships among social anxiety, POG, age, and psychosocial and comorbid factors were largely explored. Overall, the present review showed that socially anxious individuals might perceive online video games as safer social environments than face-to-face interactions, predisposing individuals to the POG. However, in a mutually reinforcing relationship, individuals with higher POG seem to show higher social anxiety. Therefore, despite online gaming might represent an activity able to alleviate psychopathological symptoms and/or negative emotional states, people might use online gaming to counterbalance distress or negative situations in everyday life, carrying out a maladaptive coping strategy.

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Neurophysiological Markers of Internet Gaming Disorder: A Literature Review of Electroencephalography Studies

Cureus ◽

10.7759/cureus.17866 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Saima Kashif ◽

Samiksha Pandey ◽

Zain I Warriach

Keyword(s):

Literature Review ◽

Internet Gaming Disorder ◽

Gaming Disorder ◽

Internet Gaming

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Internet Gaming Disorder Scale--Short Form; Polish Version

PsycTESTS Dataset ◽

10.1037/t70447-000 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Bruno Schivinski ◽

Magdalena Brzozowska-Woś ◽

Erin M. Buchanan ◽

Mark D. Griffiths ◽

Halley M. Pontes

Keyword(s):

Short Form ◽

Internet Gaming Disorder ◽

Gaming Disorder ◽

Internet Gaming ◽

Polish Version

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Estimated Prevalence of Unreported IGD Cases in Routine Outpatient Children and Adolescent Psychotherapy

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18136787 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (13) ◽

pp. 6787

Author(s):

Sonja Kewitz ◽

Eva Vonderlin ◽

Lutz Wartberg ◽

Katajun Lindenberg

Keyword(s):

Children And Adolescents ◽

Internet Gaming Disorder ◽

Self Report ◽

Clinical Population ◽

Gaming Disorder ◽

Parental Report ◽

Outpatient Psychotherapy ◽

Old Patients ◽

Internet Gaming ◽

Icd 10

Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) has been included in the DSM-5 as a diagnosis for further study, and Gaming Disorder as a new diagnosis in the ICD-11. Nonetheless, little is known about the clinical prevalence of IGD in children and adolescents. Additionally, it is unclear if patients with IGD are already identified in routine psychotherapy, using the ICD-10 diagnosis F 63.8 (recommended classification of IGD in ICD-10). This study investigated N = 358 children and adolescents (self and parental rating) of an outpatient psychotherapy centre in Germany using the Video Game Dependency Scale. According to self-report 4.0% of the 11- to 17-year-old patients met criteria for a tentative IGD diagnosis and 14.0% according to the parental report. Of the 5- to 10-year-old patients, 4.1% were diagnosed with tentative IGD according to parental report. Patients meeting IGD criteria were most frequently diagnosed with hyperkinetic disorders, followed by anxiety disorders, F 63.8, conduct disorders, mood disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorders (descending order) as primary clinical diagnoses. Consequently, this study indicates that a significant amount of the clinical population presents IGD. Meaning, appropriate diagnostics should be included in routine psychological diagnostics in order to avoid “hidden” cases of IGD in the future.

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