INTERNET-GAME ADDICTION AMONG ADOLESCENT PATIENTS AT A UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL PSYCHIATRY CLINIC

Abstract

In the 20-plus years since emergence of the concept of internet addiction, whether it is simply a social phenomenon or a medical condition requiring medical intervention has been a point of controversy and debate. However, following inclusion of internet gaming disorder or gaming disorder in the DSM-5 and ICD-11, the concept has become a focus of much attention. Given the fact, we conducted a survey on the state and cases of internet game addiction encountered at university hospitals. In urban areas, about 25% of the patients using the internet primarily for game playing fell in the problematic internet user category, and about 8% in the pathological user group. Patients corresponding to the problematic and pathological internet user groups were noted having relatively high rates of background anxiety/depression symptoms, school refusal, and substance abuse including smoking and drinking. Moreover, the problematic and pathological internet users showed greater deterioration in overall daily living functioning, and problems regarding peer relationships after school hours compared to normal internet users. From these results, addiction tendencies to internet gaming were regarded as possible indication of underlying psychosocial factors requiring medical intervention, where step-by-step therapy tailored to the characteristics of each individual and their families were regarded as the realistic approach for actual treatment and support. This paper introduces two such cases experienced in the university hospital setting.