Our kids already have unhealthy infatuations with screens and the pandemic hasn't helped. In fact, addiction to video games or the internet is now recognized by the World Health Organization's International Classification of Diseases and claims adolescents are particularly at risk. The good news, however, is a cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) approach may be a way to reduce the severity of symptoms of gaming and internet disorders. It's a global pandemic all of its own--gaming and internet addictions--and our tweens and teens are at risk. The World Health Organization classifies Internet and Gaming disorders as issues that the pandemic has made worse, but researchers are looking into how to battle and even prevent our tweens and teens from developing the disorders. A cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) approach called PROTECT (Professional Use of Technical Media), shows a reduction in the severity of symptoms of both gaming and internet disorders. New research shows the results of the PROTECT intervention reduced symptoms of unspecified internet use disorder and gaming disorders over the course of 12 months. The research looked at almost 500 high schoolers from 33 different schools. Of those kids, 167 were enrolled in a PROTECT Course and 255 were the control group with no PROTECT training given. The PROTECT course was given by trained psychologists and in four 90-minute sessions. As other CBT techniques do, PROTECT tries to change negative patterns of thinking to shift behavior and patterns. In this case, the risk factors were things like motivational problems, boredom and social anxiety. The research team looked at the follow-up surveys for the next year. The survey results showed that in the PROTECT group, severity of symptoms of internet and gaming disorders had dropped nearly 40%, as compared to 27.7% in the control group where there was no PROTECT training. After a year, however, there was no significant difference between the two groups with regard to either condition. In fact, the descriptive symptom analyses showed an INCREASE in symptom severity of gaming or unspecified internet use disorder in the first month of the PROTECT training group, while there was a decrease in the control group. The research team believes this could be because the control group was aware of a problem, and heightened awareness can change behavior for the short term.

What Happens With Gaming Disorder In Teens Or Internet Addiction In Teens?

We're learning more and more about what happens in the brains of those addicted to gaming or internet use. And, what we know so far is that these addictions are similar to the addictions to drugs or alcohol. It's estimated that about 5% of people have a gaming disorder, and the prevalence of those with internet use disorder is about 6%.

We see it in our tweens and teens all the time--dark circles, behavior changes, irrational behavior when they don't get their 'internet' fix, to name a few. Not to mention, these are developing brains and the neural pathways being created as addiction grows are not healthy, and lead to mental health unwellness as they age. These issues were serious enough before the pandemic, but since March 2020, the impact on both social interaction and education only made it worse. Kids felt more isolated and alone than ever, and the internet and gaming allowed them the opportunity to socialize and maintain 'relationships' with their friends and schoolmates. But at what cost? A cost too high, say many experts and parents.

What Are Symptoms Of Gaming Disorder In Teens

We know kids love video games. We know that they've been playing them since...well, Atari? We know that not every kid who plays Minecraft is addicted to gaming, and there are many ways that boundaries can be created. But what does addiction look like? What qualifies as gaming or internet addiction with regard to diagnostic criteria? Experts are still trying to frame that.

The World Health Organization added gaming disorder to the 2018 version of the International Classification of Diseases (its medical reference book). According to The American Psychiatry Association,

Addiction to gaming is described in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), which is used by mental health professionals to diagnose mental disorders. There was not sufficient evidence to determine whether the condition is a unique mental disorder or the best criteria to classify it at the time the DSM-5 was published in 2013. However, it recognized internet gaming disorder in the section recommending conditions for further research, along with caffeine use disorder and other conditions.

The DSM-5 includes substance-related addictive disorders, such as alcohol, tobacco, stimulants, marijuana and opioids. Gambling disorder is the only behavioral addiction (as opposed to substance use) identified in DSM-5.

Still, both major organizations recognize the growing problem of significant impairment or distress due to gaming, and propose the following symptoms of internet gaming disorder (this excludes the use of the internet alone, gambling or the use of social media or smartphones):
  • Preoccupation with gaming
  • Withdrawal symptoms when gaming is taken away or not possible (sadness, anxiety, irritability)
  • Tolerance, the need to spend more time gaming to satisfy the urge
  • Inability to reduce playing, unsuccessful attempts to quit gaming
  • Giving up other activities, loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities due to gaming
  • Continuing to game despite problems
  • Deceiving family members or others about the amount of time spent on gaming
  • The use of gaming to relieve negative moods, such as guilt or hopelessness
  • Risk, having jeopardized or lost a job or relationship due to gaming
With this proposed criteria, to diagnose internet gaming disorder, a tween or teen would have to experience five or more of those symptoms within a year. This can include gaming not just on the internet but also on any electronic device.

It's hard, mamas. Raising these amazing humans we have in this day and age is hard. But...it's important that we pay attention to what is attacking our kids' brains, and continue to support research and interventions that can help them be their best selves--addiction free.