Gaming Addiction is a Mental Disorder.
The entertainment and recreation of online games is remain no more as it has been chnaged into an addiction. This addiction is a very serious issue and it can be dangerous for someone, of he is not cured on time. These days everyone is fascinated with online games, whether youth or aged, teenage or old, all are enjoying and engaging in playing online games.
This recreational habit is turning into addiction which is very urgent issue to address by medical world. Dr. Anita Rao, Director Medical Services at the TTK Hospital, Chennai, she tells that in February 2018, she received an IT Professional from Delhi who was suffering from gaming disorder and he was brought by his parents to the hospital. His parents told that he had cut all the connections from everyone and eaten only chips and processed food as he played online games throughout the day. When his parents realized that he needed medical intervention when he stopped going to work and spent all his savings on upgrading his computer and gaming devices. Dr. Rao further adds "We kept him for a month and cut all his access to gadgets." For medication, he had received mood stabilization therapy and he was treated as the drug addict or an alcohol addict. In the counselling session that person revealed that family disputes were among the reasons for turning towards virtual gaming to get an escape route.
Dr. Lakshmi Vijayakumar who is the Head of Department of Psychiatry and De-Addiction, Voluntary Health Services said that everyday or every two days she encounters with at least one similar case. Many of victims are children who were brought by their parents anxious over their dipping performance and poor grades as they are unable to focus on studies after playing games online. Dr. Vijayakumar further adds, "Not everyone is an addict." People categorized as addicts are usually between 15 and 30 years. Most of them compete with persons from across the world in online games and averagely they are playing games for more than eight hours.
Experts opinion is that there is an involvement of multiple players in these games. The most common that surface during interactions are Dota and Candy Crush. Despite the growing number of reports of people having difficulties, the scale of gaming addiction is uncounted.
This resulted in that psychologists categorize the problem using their own criteria as internet addiction-gaming addiction-mobile phone addiction said, Ram Attur who works as an Advisor, Address Health, which focuses on the health needs of the school children.
Although there is no standard treatment for these addicts, doctors said, but Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is effective. The combination of 50% medication with CBT have some underlying psychiatric condition like mild depression or anxiety told by Dr. Vijayakumar. She further said that doctors are giving daily chart and gradually limiting the hours they spend online. Many addicts undergone with withdrawal symptoms like increased restlessness and occasional violence.
Reema Gupta, Psychologist and Manager, Nurturing School Programme at Address Health told that identification the trigger is the key. "We try to acsertain why the person took to video games." It is generally either because he lacks emotional skills or social skills and starts playing games to reduce anxiety or anger. She said it can be used as a starting point to bring about changes. In the absence of a standard process, doctors go by approaches followed in other countries, which may not be effective in the Indian context.
In year 2014, India took a first step for internet de-addiction and first de-addiction centre for internet was opened at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences. Clinical Psychologist Dr. Manoj Sharma said that initially they had three months and six months session to cure addiction. However the dropout rate was 90% within the first month. From last November, Dr. Sharma told that now they have came with a treatment module including CBT that would last a month. Dr. Sharma said that pilot project gave a positive response and finally gaming addiction has been recognized as a Mental Illness by the World Health Organization and it will be a while before India catches up with countries like South Korea and Japan, which treat gaming addicts as inpatients.
Common Symptoms of Online Games Addiction Are :
1) Preoccupied about getting back to the game.
2) Displaying restless and aggressive behaviour when not playing.
3) Poor academic and work performance.
4) Headaches and fatigue due to lack of sleep.
5) Loss of appetite and poor diet.
6) Weight gain or loss.
Common Causes of Online Games Addiction Are :
1) Bursts in dopamine activity- neurotransmitter that helps control brain's reward and pleasure centre.
2) Brain associates gaming with increased dopamine levels, making it difficult for a person to stop the compulsive behaviour.
3) Some addicts use it to escape problems like alcoholism.
Common Treatments of Online Games Addiction Are :
1) Counselling- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) focuses on questioning and changing negative and unproductive thoughts and beliefs in order to stop triggers that lead to pathological gaming.
2) Medication- Antidepressant bupropion is used to reduce craving for gaming.
Source: The Times of India(26th June 2018)
By: Muskan Srivastava
The entertainment and recreation of online games is remain no more as it has been chnaged into an addiction. This addiction is a very serious issue and it can be dangerous for someone, of he is not cured on time. These days everyone is fascinated with online games, whether youth or aged, teenage or old, all are enjoying and engaging in playing online games.
This recreational habit is turning into addiction which is very urgent issue to address by medical world. Dr. Anita Rao, Director Medical Services at the TTK Hospital, Chennai, she tells that in February 2018, she received an IT Professional from Delhi who was suffering from gaming disorder and he was brought by his parents to the hospital. His parents told that he had cut all the connections from everyone and eaten only chips and processed food as he played online games throughout the day. When his parents realized that he needed medical intervention when he stopped going to work and spent all his savings on upgrading his computer and gaming devices. Dr. Rao further adds "We kept him for a month and cut all his access to gadgets." For medication, he had received mood stabilization therapy and he was treated as the drug addict or an alcohol addict. In the counselling session that person revealed that family disputes were among the reasons for turning towards virtual gaming to get an escape route.
Dr. Lakshmi Vijayakumar who is the Head of Department of Psychiatry and De-Addiction, Voluntary Health Services said that everyday or every two days she encounters with at least one similar case. Many of victims are children who were brought by their parents anxious over their dipping performance and poor grades as they are unable to focus on studies after playing games online. Dr. Vijayakumar further adds, "Not everyone is an addict." People categorized as addicts are usually between 15 and 30 years. Most of them compete with persons from across the world in online games and averagely they are playing games for more than eight hours.
Experts opinion is that there is an involvement of multiple players in these games. The most common that surface during interactions are Dota and Candy Crush. Despite the growing number of reports of people having difficulties, the scale of gaming addiction is uncounted.
This resulted in that psychologists categorize the problem using their own criteria as internet addiction-gaming addiction-mobile phone addiction said, Ram Attur who works as an Advisor, Address Health, which focuses on the health needs of the school children.
Although there is no standard treatment for these addicts, doctors said, but Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is effective. The combination of 50% medication with CBT have some underlying psychiatric condition like mild depression or anxiety told by Dr. Vijayakumar. She further said that doctors are giving daily chart and gradually limiting the hours they spend online. Many addicts undergone with withdrawal symptoms like increased restlessness and occasional violence.
Reema Gupta, Psychologist and Manager, Nurturing School Programme at Address Health told that identification the trigger is the key. "We try to acsertain why the person took to video games." It is generally either because he lacks emotional skills or social skills and starts playing games to reduce anxiety or anger. She said it can be used as a starting point to bring about changes. In the absence of a standard process, doctors go by approaches followed in other countries, which may not be effective in the Indian context.
In year 2014, India took a first step for internet de-addiction and first de-addiction centre for internet was opened at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences. Clinical Psychologist Dr. Manoj Sharma said that initially they had three months and six months session to cure addiction. However the dropout rate was 90% within the first month. From last November, Dr. Sharma told that now they have came with a treatment module including CBT that would last a month. Dr. Sharma said that pilot project gave a positive response and finally gaming addiction has been recognized as a Mental Illness by the World Health Organization and it will be a while before India catches up with countries like South Korea and Japan, which treat gaming addicts as inpatients.
Common Symptoms of Online Games Addiction Are :
1) Preoccupied about getting back to the game.
2) Displaying restless and aggressive behaviour when not playing.
3) Poor academic and work performance.
4) Headaches and fatigue due to lack of sleep.
5) Loss of appetite and poor diet.
6) Weight gain or loss.
Common Causes of Online Games Addiction Are :
1) Bursts in dopamine activity- neurotransmitter that helps control brain's reward and pleasure centre.
2) Brain associates gaming with increased dopamine levels, making it difficult for a person to stop the compulsive behaviour.
3) Some addicts use it to escape problems like alcoholism.
Common Treatments of Online Games Addiction Are :
1) Counselling- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) focuses on questioning and changing negative and unproductive thoughts and beliefs in order to stop triggers that lead to pathological gaming.
2) Medication- Antidepressant bupropion is used to reduce craving for gaming.
Source: The Times of India(26th June 2018)
By: Muskan Srivastava
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