by Perlea, Victor ¹, Mayer, Gwendolyn ¹

• ¹ Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg

This is the abridged version, for the extended version click here
The introduction and overview can be found here

Disclaimer: We have compiled this information to the best of our knowledge based on current scientific literature (as of May 2026). However, we do not provide diagnosis or treatment recommendations. If you notice any mental health concerns in yourself or in a child or adolescent in your care, please consult a medical doctor.

Internet gaming disorder describes a reduced ability to control gaming and may involve cravings, tolerance, and withdrawal symptoms. It can lead to impairment, social isolation, anxiety, or depression. Around 2% of children and adolescents in representative samples are affected (Paulus et al., 2018).

Risk factors

· Risk factors include male sex, older adolescence, low self-esteem, social isolation, limited offline friendships, poor school performance, truancy, low school engagement, and unemployment (Paulus et al., 2018).

Treatment approaches

· Treatment recommendations favour manualized CBT and family-based interventions rather than pharmacological approaches. The WHO also provides further information on gaming disorder (Pogarell et al. 2023).

More information: https://www.who.int/standards/classifications/frequently-asked-questions/gaming-disorder

References for this article are here