Psychology Faculty Work

Title

Internet Gaming Disorder in Children and Adolescents

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-2017

Publication Title

Pediatrics

Volume Number

140

Issue Number

Supplement 2

DOI

10.1542/peds.2016-1758H

Abstract

The American Psychiatric Association recently included Internet gaming disorder (IGD) as a potential diagnosis, recommending that further study be conducted to help illuminate it more clearly. This paper is a summary of the review undertaken by the IGD Working Group as part of the 2015 National Academy of Sciences Sackler Colloquium on Digital Media and Developing Minds. By using measures based on or similar to the IGD definition, we found that prevalence rates range between ∼1% and 9%, depending on age, country, and other sample characteristics. The etiology of IGD is not well-understood at this time, although it appears that impulsiveness and high amounts of time gaming may be risk factors. Estimates for the length of time the disorder can last vary widely, but it is unclear why. Although the authors of several studies have demonstrated that IGD can be treated, no randomized controlled trials have yet been published, making any definitive statements about treatment impossible. IGD does, therefore, appear to be an area in which additional research is clearly needed. We discuss several of the critical questions that future research should address and provide recommendations for clinicians, policy makers, and educators on the basis of what we know at this time.

Comments

Additional Authors: Tracy Markle, Nancy M. Petry, Sara Prot, Cosette D. Rae, Florian Rehbein, Michael Rich, Dave Sullivan, Elizabeth Woolley, Kimberly Young

ISSN

0031-4005

First Page

S81

Last Page

S85

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