BACKGROUND: Internet gaming disorder among university students has become a great concern for university counsellors worldwide since the COVID-19 pandemic. The factors influencing the development of internet gaming disorder in students during the COVID-19 pandemic could be different from those before the pandemic.
OBJECTIVE: This study aims to explore the associations among social isolation, self-control, and internet gaming disorder in Chinese university students and to examine whether self-control mediates the positive effects of social isolation on internet gaming disorder.
METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was employed to collect data from university students in Shandong province of China from April to September 2022. The Isolation subscale of the Self-Compassion Scale, Self-Control Scale, and Internet Gaming Disorder Scale were used to assess the social isolation, self-control, and internet gaming disorder among university students, respectively. Models 4 and 5 of PROCESS software were used to analyze the mediating role of self-control and the moderating role of gender on the association between social isolation and internet gaming disorder.
RESULTS: A total of 479 students were recruited from 6 universities located in 3 different regions of Shandong, China. Students had low levels of internet gaming disorder and moderate levels of social isolation and self-control, with mean scores of 8.94 (SD 9.06), 12.04 (SD 3.53), and 57.15 (SD 8.44), respectively. Social isolation was positively correlated with internet gaming disorder (r=0.217; P<.001), and self-control was negatively correlated with social isolation (r=-0.355; P<.001) and internet gaming disorder (r=-0.260; P<.001). Self-control played a mediating role in the association between social isolation and internet gaming disorder (β=-.185, 95% CI -.295 to -.087). The effects of social isolation on internet gaming disorder among female students were lower than those among male students.
CONCLUSIONS: Self-control was a mediator in the association between social isolation and internet gaming disorder. Moreover, gender played a moderating role in the association between social isolation and internet gaming disorder. This study highlights the need to alleviate the development of internet gaming disorder among students during a pandemic, especially that of male students. Effective interventions that lessen social isolation and promote self-control should be developed.

The classification of internet gaming disorder (IGD) as a mental condition for further study in 2013 marked the emerging recognition of potential mental health issues associated with internet and gaming addiction. The COVID-19 pandemic and the rapid growth of gaming technology have combined to increase internet gaming, resulting in unhealthy lifestyle behaviors, poor sleep quality and psychological distress. Identifying the complex interplay between internet problem use, sleep disorders and psychological distress is crucial. However, it remains unclear how physical activity and self-compassion could improve sleep quality when individuals experience IGD symptoms. The current study, therefore, examined the relationships between IGD, sleep quality, self-compassion, physical activity and psychological distress using a path analysis approach. The study, targeting young adults (N = 283), found that physical activity played a significant role in connecting the variables and supporting the overall fit of the model. The results suggest that interventions targeting individuals with IGD should focus on promoting physical activity participation and developing self-compassion. Future research should continue to investigate the effectiveness of clinical interventions that incorporate self-compassion and physical activity counseling for individuals with IGD.

Gaming avatars can influence users\' attitudes and behaviors and manifest as the proteus effect. The present study examined proteus effect profiles among 571 gamers and their associations with disordered gaming and physical activity. Latent class analysis identified three profiles: non-influenced gamers, emotion-perception influenced gamers (highest proteus effect), and emotion-behavior influenced gamers (moderate proteus effect). The high proteus effect group exhibited significantly higher gaming disorder symptoms at baseline and 6 months compared to other profiles. Proteus effect profiles did not significantly differ in physical activity levels. However, higher disordered gaming and proteus effect predicted lower activity over time. The strong proteus effect group\'s avatar immersion may increase gaming disorder risks. Minimal avatar influence for the non-influenced gamers appears protective. While proteus effect profiles do not directly relate to activity, amplified disordered gaming can reduce active lifestyles. Overall, findings demonstrate how avatars differentially affect gamers\' experiences and functioning through proteus-induced changes.

With internet gaming disorder (IGD) becoming more common, there are growing worries about the health of those it affects. This study examines how traits like Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and narcissism might connect family functioning to IGD. The research involved 1190 young adults who answered an online survey, sharing their personal experiences. To examine the mediation effects, latent variable structural equation modeling (SEM) was used, revealing complex relationships among the variables under investigation. Although all direct and indirect paths were statistically significant, the mediation effects of narcissism were positive only when Machiavellianism and psychopathy were not included as parallel mediators, but negative otherwise. The findings suggest that individuals with strong family functioning could be less likely to internalize manipulative behaviors and show a lack of empathy, traits that could contribute to their involvement in IGD. The results underscore the importance of recognizing the multifaceted nature of this phenomenon and provide valuable insights for developing comprehensive strategies to prevent and tackle IGD. Therefore, prevention and intervention efforts should consider the combined influences of family functioning, personality traits, and individual and contextual factors in the online environment to effectively address this problem.

UNASSIGNED: Video games have become increasingly popular worldwide, attracting billions of gamers across diverse demographics. While studies have highlighted their potential benefits, concerns about problematic gaming behaviors have also emerged. Conditions such as Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) have been recognized by major health organizations, necessitating accurate diagnostic tools. However, existing methods, primarily reliant on self-report questionnaires, face challenges in accuracy and consistency. This paper proposes a novel technological approach to provide gaming behavior indicators, aiming to offer precise insights into gamer behavior and emotion regulation.
UNASSIGNED: To attain this objective, we investigate quantifiable gaming behavior metrics using automated, unobtrusive, and easily accessible methods. Our approach encompasses the analysis of behavioral telemetry data collected from online gaming platforms and incorporates automated extraction of gamer emotional states from face video recordings during gameplay. To illustrate the metrics and visualizations and demonstrate our method\'s application we collected data from two amateur and two professional gamers, all of whom played Counter-Strike2 on PC. Our approach offers objective insights into in-game gamer behavior, helping health professionals in the identification of patterns that may be difficult to discern through traditional assessment methods.
UNASSIGNED: Preliminary assessments of the proposed methodology demonstrate its potential usefulness in providing valuable insights about gaming behavior and emotion regulation. By leveraging automated data collection and visualization analysis techniques, our approach offers a more comprehensive understanding of gamer behavior, which could enhance diagnostic accuracy and inform interventions for individuals at risk of problematic gaming behaviors.
UNASSIGNED: Our findings demonstrate the valuable insights obtainable from a tool that collects telemetry data, emotion regulation metrics, and gaming patterns. This tool, utilizing specific indicators, can support healthcare professionals in diagnosing IGD and tracking therapeutic progress, potentially addressing challenges linked to conventional IGD assessment methods. Furthermore, this initial data can provide therapists with detailed information on each player\'s problematic behaviors and gaming habits, enabling the development of personalized treatments tailored to individual needs. Future research endeavors will focus on refining the methodology and extending its application in clinical settings to facilitate more comprehensive diagnostic practices and tailored interventions for individuals at risk of problematic gaming behaviors.

BACKGROUND: Internet gaming disorder (IGD) is mainly characterized by its core dysfunction in higher-order brain cortices involved in inhibitory control, whose neurobiological basis remains unclear. Then, we will investigate local intrinsic neural activity (INA) alterations in IGD, ascertain whether these potential alterations are related to clinical characteristics, and further explore the underlying molecular architecture.
METHODS: In this study, we performed the fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (fALFF) and regional homogeneity (ReHo) derived from resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) to explore the impact of IGD on local INA. Correlation analysis revealed the relationship between ReHo and fALFF in terms of group differences and clinical characteristics. Moreover, correlations between fALFF, ReHo, and PET- and SPECT-driven maps were investigated to elucidate the specific molecular architecture alternations in IGD. Finally, receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis was used to show the potential abilities of fALFF and ReHo in distinguishing individuals with IGD (IGDs) from healthy controls (HCs).
RESULTS: Compared with HCs, IGDs revealed increased ReHo and fALFF in the prefrontal cortex. Significantly decreased ReHo was observed in the temporal lobe, occipital lobe, and cerebellum. In addition, the ReHo values in the cerebellum_7b_R were positively correlated with internet addiction severity. ROC curve analysis showed that ReHo and fALFF-altered brain regions could effectively distinguish IGDs from HCs. More importantly, cross-modal correlations revealed local INA changes in brain regions associated with the monoamine neurotransmitter system and the less studied cholinergic/GABAergic system.
CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that local functional impairments are shown in the audiovisual and inhibitory control circuits in IGDs. This may be associated with underlying neurotransmitter system alterations. Therefore, this study provides the possibility of GABAergic receptor agonists and cholinergic receptor inhibitors for the treatment of IGD.

BACKGROUND: Internet gaming disorder (IGD) and tobacco use disorder (TUD) are two major addiction disorders that result in substantial financial loss. Identifying the similarities and differences between these two disorders is important to understand substance addiction and behavioral addiction. The current study was designed to compare these two disorders utilizing dynamic analysis.
METHODS: Resting-state data were collected from 35 individuals with IGD, 35 individuals with TUD and 35 healthy controls (HCs). Dynamic coactivation pattern analysis was employed to decipher their dynamic patterns.
RESULTS: IGD participants showed decreased coactivation patterns within the default mode network (DMN) and between the DMN and the salience network (SN). The SN showed reduced coactivation patterns with the executive control network (ECN) and DMN, and the ECN showed decreased coactivation patterns with the DMN. In the TUD group, the DMN exhibited decreased coactivation patterns with the SN, the SN exhibited reduced coactivation patterns with the DMN and ECN, and the ECN showed decreased coactivation patterns with the DMN and within the ECN. Furthermore, the triple network model was fitted to the dynamic properties of the two addiction disorders. Decoding analysis results indicated that addiction-related memory and memory retrieval displayed similar dysfunctions in both addictions.
CONCLUSIONS: The dynamic characteristics of IGD and TUD suggest that there are similarities in the dynamic features between the SN and DMN and differences in the dynamic features between the DMN and ECN. Our results revealed that the two addiction disorders have dissociable brain mechanisms, indicating that future studies should consider these two addiction disorders as having two separate mechanisms to achieve precise treatment for their individualized targets.

BACKGROUND: Gaming disorder (GD) is a new official diagnosis in the International Classification of Diseases, 11th Revision, and with its recognition, the need to offer treatment for the condition has become apparent. More knowledge is needed about the type of treatment needed for this group of patients.
OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness and acceptability of a novel module-based psychological treatment for GD based on cognitive behavioral therapy and family therapy.
METHODS: This study is a nonrandomized intervention study, with a pretest, posttest, and 3-month follow-up design. It will assess changes in GD symptoms, psychological distress, and gaming time, alongside treatment satisfaction, working alliance, and a qualitative exploration of patients\' and relatives\' experiences of the treatment.
RESULTS: This study started in March 2022 and the recruitment is expected to close in August 2024.
CONCLUSIONS: This study evaluates the effectiveness and acceptability of a psychological treatment for patients with problematic gaming behavior and GD. It is an effectiveness trial and will be conducted in routine care. This study will have high external validity and ensure that the results are relevant for a diverse clinical population with psychiatric comorbidity.
BACKGROUND: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06018922; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06018922.
UNASSIGNED: DERR1-10.2196/56315.

UNASSIGNED: This study aims to adapt and verify the psychometric properties of the Craving for Internet Gaming Scale (CIGS) in a Polish sample. Craving, although observed as significantly associated with Internet Gaming Disorder, is not currently included in its diagnostic criteria. This research addresses the need for scales to measure craving in this particular context.
UNASSIGNED: The research involved a sample of 575 participants. Psychometric analysis, including confirmatory factor analysis, was conducted to assess the CIGS\' reliability and validity. Additional scales, such as the Game Transfer Phenomena Scale, Motives for Online Gaming Questionnaire, and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales, were used for concurrent validity analysis.
UNASSIGNED: The study results demonstrate the excellent psychometric properties of the Polish adaptation of the CIGS. It showed high reliability in terms of internal consistency and provided evidence for construct validity. Furthermore, it exhibited a positive correlation with various scales associated with problematic video game use and gaming addiction, while also showing a moderate negative correlation with self-control.
UNASSIGNED: Our findings suggest that the CIGS retains its psychometric properties in different cultures, making it a valuable instrument for comprehending craving within the context of Internet gaming disorder. Future research should focus on the adaptation of the CIGS to various cultural settings and the exploration of potential intergroup differences.

OBJECTIVE: Previous research has explored a variety of mental disorders associated with Internet Gaming Disoder (IGD) and Social Media Addiction (SMA). To date, few studies focused on the network characteristics and investigated mood and sleep symptoms across SMA and IGD of adolescence at a group-specific level. This study aims to identify different characteristics of IGD and SMA and further determine the group-specific psychopathology process among adolescents.
METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study to recruit a cohort of 7,246 adolescents who were scored passing the cutoff point of Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short Form and Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale, as grouped in IGD and SMA, or otherwise into the control group. Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index were assessed for the current study, and all assessed items were investigated using network analysis.
RESULTS: Based on the analytical procedure, the participants were divided into three groups, the IGD group (n=789), SMA group (n=713) and control group (n=5,744). The edge weight bootstrapping analysis shows that different groups of networks reach certain accuracy, and the network structures of the three groups are statistically different (pcontrol-IGD=0.004, pcontrol-SMA<0.001, pIGD-SMA<0.001). The core symptom of SMA is \"feeling down, depressed, or hopeless\", while IGD is \"feeling tired or having little energy\".
CONCLUSIONS: Although IGD and SMA are both subtypes of internet addiction, the psychopathology processes of IGD and SMA are different. When dealing with IGD and SMA, different symptoms should be addressed.