Internet and Video Game Addictions: Diagnosis, Epidemiology, and Neurobiology

Clifford J Sussman; James M Harper; Jessica L Stahl; Paul Weigle

doi:10.1016/j.chc.2017.11.015

Internet and Video Game Addictions: Diagnosis, Epidemiology, and Neurobiology

Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am. 2018 Apr;27(2):307-326. doi: 10.1016/j.chc.2017.11.015. Epub 2018 Feb 1.

Authors

Clifford J Sussman¹, James M Harper², Jessica L Stahl³, Paul Weigle⁴

Affiliations

¹ Private Practice, 5410 Connecticut Avenue, Northwest, Suite 112, Washington, DC 20015, USA; Department of Psychiatry, George Washington University Medical School, 2300 I Street NW, Washington, DC 20052, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Adolescent Inpatient Psychiatric Unit, Dominion Hospital, 2960 Sleepy Hollow Road, Falls Church, VA 22044, USA; Private Practice, Columbia Associates in Psychiatry, 2501 North Glebe Road, Suite 303, Arlington, VA 22207, USA.
³ Pediatric Nephrology, University of Washington, MS OC.9.820, PO Box 5371, Seattle, WA 98145-5005, USA.
⁴ Department of Psychiatry, Natchaug Hospital, Hartford Healthcare, 189 Storrs Road, Mansfield Center, Mansfield, CT 06250, USA.

PMID: 29502753
DOI: 10.1016/j.chc.2017.11.015

Abstract

In the past 2 decades, there has been substantial increase in availability and use of digital technologies, including the Internet, computer games, smart phones, and social media. Behavioral addiction to use of technologies spawned a body of related research. The recent inclusion of Internet gaming disorder as a condition for further study in the DSM-V invigorated a new wave of researchers, thereby expanding our understanding of these conditions. This article reviews current research, theory, and practice regarding the diagnosis, epidemiology, and neurobiology of Internet and video game addictions.

Keywords: Addiction; Computer; Digital; IGD; Internet; Internet gaming disorder; Video game.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Behavior, Addictive / diagnosis*
Behavior, Addictive / epidemiology*
Behavior, Addictive / physiopathology*
Brain / physiopathology*
Child
Comorbidity*
Female
Humans
Internet*
Male
Mental Disorders / epidemiology*
Video Games*