What is a 'video game addiction'?
The ICD-11 characterises a gaming disorder by a "pattern of persistent or recurrent gaming behaviour [...] which may be online (i.e. over the internet) or offline" and manifests by:
Whilst WHO refer to it as a disorder, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) in America refers to it as an addiction. The DSM-5 defines it as "the steady and repetitive use of the Internet to play games frequently with different gamers, which leads to clinically significant distress and psychological changes as demonstrated by five or more criteria in a year".
Gaming addiction/disorder fall under the spectrum of internet addiction which also includes addiction to online shopping, gambling, and social networks.
How can video game addictions develop?
The average gamer is estimated to spend six hours gaming a week. Addicted gamers can play up to fourteen hours a day, sometimes more. The ICD-11 says that in order for a diagnosis to be assigned, that behaviours should be evident over a period of at least twelve months.
Lorrine Marer, a behavioural specialist, explains that "Gaming is like heroin. Once you are hooked, it's hard to get unhooked." No matter the type of addiction, it all comes down to the short-term highs that the addictive substance or behaviour gives you. The short-term highs stem from the dopamine release that gamers get when playing, perhaps winning at Battle Royale type of games, and will continue to seek these short-term dopamine hits.
Gaming disorders can be caused by underlying mental health disorders such as ADHD, anxiety or depression when computer games are used to cope with symptoms. Other causes can stem from boredom, desire for escapism and social isolation, the latter of which contributed to an uptake in excessive gaming behaviours during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Beyond symptoms of spending excessive amounts of time gaming and neglecting daily life activities, gaming addiction can also result in deteriorating health such as poor and unhealthy diet, hearing or eyesight problems, sleep deprivation, insufficient physical activity, depression and aggressive behaviour.
How can video game addictions be treated?
The NHS National Centre for Gaming Disorders state that their focus is on "gaining more control over your gaming so it does not take over other areas of your life and feels more balanced". The NHS offers treatment for affected individuals and their parent(s) or family, though workshops for the latter have been suspended due to high referrals.
Individuals are offered a two-phase therapy beginning with an introductory group where patients learn about how gaming can become addictive followed by group or individual Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). CBT is a talking therapy that helps you change negative thought patterns and is used to help with a variety of mental health conditions such as sleep problems, panic disorder, some eating disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Parents of a child with a gaming disorder are offered four psychoeducational workshops by the NHS Centre to help them understand how disordered gaming develops, insight into treatment, how to positively influence changes and incorporate healthy collaborative communication.
If you or someone you know struggles with a video game addiction, you can self-refer via the NHS National Centre of Gaming Disorders from anywhere in the country.
