Effects of a Behavioral Intervention With a Child Diagnosed With Internet Gaming Disorder: Changes in Time Spent Playing Games, Aggressive Behavior, and School Attendance

Abstract

The present article reports a home-visit behavioral intervention with a boy (elementary school second grade) with internet gaming disorder (IGD) and aggressive behavior. The intervention consisted of arranging the environment to ensure the safety of the boy’s mother, differential reinforcement of a low rate of responding targeting the amount of time spent playing games, and formation of school attendance as an alternative behavior. The results indicated that the time spent playing games and aggressive behavior decreased, while school attendance increased. At a one-year follow-up, time spent playing games and school attendance remained stable. Furthermore, aggressive behavior remained at the same level as at the end of the intervention. The effects and challenges of behavioral interventions for internet gaming disorder with aggressive behavior are discussed.