Novel approaches for treating Internet Gaming Disorder: A review of technology-based interventions

Monika Gorowska; Klaudia Tokarska; XinYu Zhou; Mateusz Kazimierz Gola; Yonghui Li

doi:10.1016/j.comppsych.2022.152312

Novel approaches for treating Internet Gaming Disorder: A review of technology-based interventions

Compr Psychiatry. 2022 May:115:152312. doi: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2022.152312. Epub 2022 Apr 3.

Authors

Monika Gorowska¹, Klaudia Tokarska², XinYu Zhou³, Mateusz Kazimierz Gola⁴, Yonghui Li⁵

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China. Electronic address: monikapaulagorowska@gmail.com.
² Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; Sino-Danish College, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
³ Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; Sino-Danish College, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
⁴ Swartz Center for Computational Neuroscience, Institute for Neural Computations, University of California San Diego, San Diego, USA; Institute of Psychology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.
⁵ Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China. Electronic address: liyonghui@psych.ac.cn.

PMID: 35405548
DOI: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2022.152312

Abstract

Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) has become a significant issue in mental healthcare over the past decades as the number of people engaging in excessive and unhealthy gaming increases with each year. Despite its inclusion in the 5th Edition of Diagnostic Statistical Manual and the development of a number of treatment methods that have been designed and tested for IGD, treatment remains a challenge. This review attempts to give an overview of the current state of IGD and its treatment with a specific focus on the potential of technology-based solutions, such as web-based programs, mobile applications, and virtual reality. The review also highlights the need for additional work in the area of treatment development for IGD and the preliminary evidence for the usefulness and importance of technology-based treatment methods which offer unique advantages, such as accessibility, scalability, and cost-effectiveness, over other existing treatment options.

Keywords: Gaming addiction; Internet Gaming Disorder; Technology-based interventions; Treatment.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Behavior, Addictive* / diagnosis
Behavior, Addictive* / therapy
Humans
Internet
Internet Addiction Disorder
Technology
Video Games*