Learning
INTERNET GAMING DISORDER in Marin County Teens
When gaming behavior becomes a serious addiction and disorder.
IGD is most common in male adolescents 12 to 20 years of age. How IGD starts is not well-understood at
this time, although it appears that impulsiveness and high amounts of time gaming may be risk factors.
IGD appears likely to be co-morbid with other mental health problems, such as depression, social
phobias, and anxiety, and some evidence suggests that IGD can make those problems worsen. How long
the disorder lasts vary widely, but it is unclear why. To date, no randomized controlled trials exist that
indicate that IGD is treatable. More research is needed to discover how IGD starts, and evidence-based
ways to treat it.
IS MY TEEN ADDICTED TO VIDEO GAMES?
Gaming becomes problematic for teens when the behavior negatively affects their daily living. Ask
yourself these questions:
- Does gaming affect my child's ability to complete homework, get to school on time, or focus on educational needs?
- Does gaming negatively impact my child's relationships with parents, siblings, other family members, or peers?
- Does my child experience uncontrollable outbursts when told to stop gaming, including physical aggression?
- Does gaming take precedence over other areas in my child's life?
- Does gaming impede healthy habits such as eating, hygiene, and exercise?
- Does gaming result in significant changes in mood?
The DSM-5 suggests that IGD may be identified by 5 or more of 9 criteria within a 12-month period.
These criteria include:
- Preoccupation with games: The individual thinks about previous gaming activity or anticipates playing the next game; gaming becomes the dominant activity in daily life
- Withdrawal symptoms when gaming is taken away: These symptoms are typically described as irritability, anxiety, or sadness
- Tolerance: The need to spend increasing amounts of time engaged in games
- Unsuccessful attempts to control or reduce participation in games
- Loss of interest in real-life relationships, previous hobbies, and other entertainment as a result of, and with the exception of, games
- Continued excessive use of games despite knowledge of psychosocial problems
- Has deceived family members, therapists, or others regarding the amount of gaming
- Use of games to escape or relieve a negative mood (eg, feelings of helplessness, guilt, or anxiety)
- Has jeopardized or lost a significant relationship, job, or educational or career opportunity because of participation in games
WHAT TO DO IF YOU THINK YOUR CHILD IS ADDICTED TO GAMING
Gaming can trigger feelings of irritability in some kids. It can also lead to power struggles, meltdowns, and
sneaky behavior. While all of these behaviors can be problematic within families, they don't necessarily
meet the ICD-11 criterion for gaming disorder. Regardless, if gaming negatively impacts your family, it's
time to seek outside help.
Take these steps to determine what your family needs to restore a healthy emotional balance:
- Evaluation from your child's pediatrician: It's always a good idea to check in with your primary care physician for a complete checkup as a first step.
- Evaluation from a licensed mental health practitioner. Results from this assessment will help you and your therapist determine a treatment plan. This might include individual therapy (including cognitive behavioral therapy), family therapy, and/or group therapy.
- Parenting coach or therapist. If gaming is negatively impacting the family, it can be useful for parents to seek help from a therapist who specializes in parenting to learn how to establish healthy boundaries around technology and gaming, work through power struggles and meltdowns from a positive perspective, and help the child cope with emotions and other factors that contribute to the gaming behavior.
- Addiction treatment. If it is determined that a child has a true gaming disorder, treatment with an addiction specialist is required.
Healthy levels of gaming can quietly become problematic if left unchecked. When families get into to the
habit of talking about gaming, reviewing and helping one another adhere to family boundaries related to
technology and gaming, and prioritizing healthy habits, it's possible to create healthy gaming habits that
are fun for the whole family.
The information contained on this website should not be used as a substitute for the
mental healthcare of a professional, such as a psychiatrist, pediatrician or therapist.
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