Video Game Addiction Symptoms and Treatment

What is Video Game Addiction?

Video game addiction, clinically referred to as internet gaming disorder, is a serious disorder leading to significant personal and social impairment. And it can impact anyone—children, teens, and adults—seem to be affected. While there isn’t robust literature on the prevalence of this disorder, in representative samples of children and adolescents, 2% were affected by internet gaming disorder.¹

When Gaming Becomes an Addiction

The American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR), which mental health practitioners use to diagnose substance-related disorders and other mental health disorders, currently only includes one behavioral addiction and that’s a gambling disorder. Internet gaming disorder is mentioned in the DSM-5-TR in a section that recommends conditions for further research.²

The DSM-5-TR notes that internet gaming disorder must cause “significant impairment and distress” in several aspects of a person’s life.² Not all researchers agree that video gaming is a harmful or addictive activity. Many people believe that video games expand the imagination, give individuals the opportunity to work collaboratively, and sharpen cognitive skills. Yet when people spend most of their time playing video games at the expense of work, school, physical exercise, family, or social activities, the benefits of gaming seem less certain.

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Video Game Addiction?

The proposed symptoms of internet gaming disorder, according to the DSM-5-TR include:²

• A preoccupation with gaming.
• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms (such as anxiety, sadness, or irritability) when gaming is taken away or not possible.
• Developing a tolerance to gaming, meaning the individual has a need to spend more time gaming to satisfy the urge.
• Lacking the ability to reduce playing, or making unsuccessful attempts to quit gaming.
• Giving up other activities, or lacking interest in previously enjoyed activities due to gaming.
• Continuing to game despite problems it causes.
• Deceiving family and others about the amount of time spent gaming.
• Using gaming to relieve negative moods, such as guilt or hopelessness.
• Jeopardizing a job or relationship due to gaming.

Under the proposed criteria, a diagnosis of internet gaming disorder would require experiencing 5 or more of these symptoms within a year.²

Whether internet gaming disorder should be classified as a mental disorder is a topic of debate.²

One study compared gambling addiction and problem gaming in terms of the physical, mental, and social impact and found that among individuals who played games, most did not report any symptoms of internet gaming disorder.²

Additionally, studies conducted on gamers in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, and Germany suggest that 0.3% to 1% of the general population might potentially meet the criteria for internet gaming disorder.²

Other research, however, indicates that the prevalence of internet gaming disorder might actually be quite a bit higher.²

Popular Beliefs About Video Games

There are many misguided beliefs and misconceptions about video games. In some schools of thought, these computerized programs are entirely negative, promoting violence, sexism, and social isolation. Other perspectives hold that video games can be a valuable tool for education and character development, allowing individuals to simulate the roles of powerful heroes. In reality, video games have both positive and negative characteristics, and the effect of playing games often depends on the player’s attitudes toward games and life in general.

Some research suggests that the compelling quality of video games may not be due to an addictive response, but to a psychological phenomenon called “flow.” Flow takes place when individuals become so immersed in an activity that they lose track of time.³ Any engaging activity—even work or school projects—can induce a sense of flow once a person is caught up in the process. While there is nothing necessarily wrong with being immersed in a game, this process can turn into a compulsion if the gamer is unable to stop, and if it takes time away from other important activities or relationships.

Health Risks and Concerns

Compulsive video gaming can have negative effects on a developing mind or body. Adult players, too, may suffer from the effects of hours spent sitting on the couch or at a computer desk, including.

• A sedentary lifestyle. Hours spent sitting at a computer or in front of a device can take a toll on a young person’s body. The lack of physical exercise involved in video gaming has led to public health concerns about weight gain, poor posture, and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, especially in America’s children and teens.
• A lack of social engagement. Although video games require engaging with others in computerized environments, they don’t require the same socialization with their peers. Learning how to interact with others in a real-world setting is an important social skill that may be neglected by individuals who spend too much time gaming.
• Problems with concentration and attention. There is some concern that the rapid movements and fast-paced action of video games promote a loss of concentration in players. Individuals who spend a lot of time playing video games may become less interested in reading books, for example, which requires more focused, prolonged attention.
• Avoidance of developmental tasks. Adolescence is a time of self-discovery and personal development. In order to become mature adults who can take on the challenges of life, teens must learn how to confront painful emotions and awkward social experiences. When used appropriately, fantasy roleplaying video games can help kids learn and apply valuable character traits that may help them in their interactions with others. But when video gaming is used as an escape mechanism, it allows teens to avoid the developmental challenges of growing up.
• Increased aggression or violence. Individuals who devote a lot of time to playing video games that focus on combat, fighting, or violence may display more signs of aggression than those who don’t play these games. Parents must be aware of the content of video games, which are subject to a rating system similar to the one applied to films. The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) posts guidelines and ratings for popular games based on the age of the player, as well as educational resources for parents and parental game controls.
• Seizures and repetitive stress injuries. The British Medical Journal (BMJ) published an article about the risks of video gaming for players who have epilepsy or other seizure disorders. The flickering graphics, lights, and colors of video game displays may trigger seizure activity in some players. There is also evidence that compulsive game playing may lead to repetitive stress injuries of the wrists or hands.

Seeking Help and Treatment for Video Game Addiction

For individuals who have become caught in a cycle of compulsive gaming, video games can become destructive.The growing popularity of video games has created a new awareness of the problem of compulsive gaming, which in turn has led to the development of treatment programs for this addictive process. Treatment for video game addiction focuses on behavioral modification therapies, which may include:

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT, which is also used to help treat behavioral disorders as well as substance use and other mental health disorders, can help guide an individual away from the obsessive thought patterns and obsessive habits of gaming addiction.
• Group therapy. Group therapy is a valuable source of motivation and moral support, especially for individuals who have lost contact with friends or peers as a result of their gaming addiction.
• Family or marriage counseling.  Family therapy can help educate loved ones about the disorder and create a more stable home environment.

Individuals who are diagnosed with co-occurring depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or other psychiatric conditions may require medication therapy with antidepressants or anti-anxiety drugs. If substance use is a factor, the individual may need medical detox followed by specialized treatment for drug or alcohol addiction.

Finding Help for Behavioral Disorders

Compared to other addictive disorders, video game addiction may not seem very serious; however, the parents, partners, and children of people addicted to video games can testify to the negative effects of this behavior.

Like other potentially positive activities, video games have their place in a healthy, well-rounded life, but when gaming begins to take precedence over school, work, or relationships, the individual needs professional help. While American Addiction Centers does not treat video game addiction, treatment programs are available to address problem gaming and offer hope to people seeking freedom from compulsive gaming.