Addiction - Case Study

The huge increase in the use of video games in recent years has raised health concerns that are still poorly understood. Because of the frequency of this phenomena (estimated to be between 1.7 and 10% of the general population), the UN Organization has added gaming disorders to its list of mental health illnesses (2018). Several research have found similar results, indicating that drug use disorders and behavioural addictions have similar brain processes (i.e., gaming disorders).

According to the World Health Organization, this ailment is defined as a "chronic or recurrent behaviour pattern of sufficient severity to cause severe impairment in personal, familial, social, educational, or occupational functioning."

The incidence of problematic gaming in the general population is believed to range from 1.7 percent to over 10%.

A six-year study concluded that around 90% of gamers do not play in a way that is dangerous or has negative long-term implications, according to the longest study on video game addiction yet conducted. However, a large minority of people might develop a true addiction to video games and suffer mental, social, and behavioural consequences as a result.

Excessive time spent playing video games, difficulty disengaging from them, and disruption of healthy functioning are all symptoms of pathological video gaming.

Only about ten percent of gamers are affected by pathological video gaming. By emerging adulthood, participants in the study had higher levels of depression, anger, shyness, problematic cell phone use, and anxiety than those in the non-pathological group. Despite the fact that the groups were equal in all of these variables at the start, this suggests that video games may have played a role in the development of these unfavourable consequences.

While the majority of gamers do not play in a way that is dysfunctional or harmful to their lives, the findings imply that a significant minority of gamers are actually addicted to video games and experience addiction symptoms over time.

These findings also contradict the notion of video game addicts living in their parents' basements, unable to support themselves financially or find work due to their addiction. Pathological gamers appear to be just as financially stable and forward-thinking as non-addicted gamers, at least in their early twenties.

As well as addiction, the following harmful effects have been found to be related to video game use:

1. Increased aggressive thoughts and aggressive behaviors, particularly in children under age 10.
2. Increased risk of light-induced seizures, musculoskeletal disorders of the upper extremities and increased metabolic rate.
3. Reduced pro-social (cooperative) behaviors in social interactions.

When compared to persons who do not have a video game addiction, research reveals that people who are addicted to video games have poorer mental health and cognitive performance, including poorer impulse control and ADHD symptoms.

Video game addicts also experience higher emotional challenges, such as depression and anxiety, and report feeling more socially alienated.

Video games are a terrific source of amusement, but it's crucial to use them responsibly and avoid becoming addicted to them.

Yashwin Saraswat