Dual Diagnosis in Adolescents with Problematic Use of Video Games: Beyond Substances

Abstract

The technological revolution has led to the birth of new diagnoses, such as gaming disorder. When any addiction, including this one, is associated with other mental disorders, it is considered a dual diagnosis. The objectives of this current work were to estimate the prevalence of dual diagnoses in the adolescent general population while also considering the problematic use of video games and substance addiction and assessing its psychosocial risk factors. Thus, we carried out a cross-sectional study with a sample of 397 adolescents; 16.4% presented problematic videogame use and 3% presented a dual diagnosis. Male gender increased the probability of both a dual diagnosis (OR [95% CI] = 7.119 [1.132, 44.785]; p = 0.036) and problematic video game use (OR [95% CI] = 9.85 [4.08, 23.77]; p < 0.001). Regarding personality, low conscientiousness, openness, and agreeableness scores were predictors of a dual diagnosis and problematic videogame use, while emotional stability predicted a dual diagnosis (OR [95% CI] = 1.116 [1.030, 1.209]; p = 0.008). Regarding family dynamics, low affection and communication increased both the probability of a dual diagnosis (OR [95% CI] = 0.927 [0.891, 0.965]; p < 0.001) and problematic video game use (OR [95% CI] = 0.968 [0.945, 0.992]; p = 0.009). Regarding academic performance, bad school grades increased the probability of a dual diagnosis. In summary, male gender, certain personality traits, poor communication, and poor affective family dynamics should be interpreted as red flags that indicate an increased risk of a dual diagnosis in adolescents, which could require early intervention through specific detection programs.

Problematic Use of Video Games in Schools in Northern Benin (2023)

“…In the present study, there was a predominance of males among students with problematic video game use (189% or 73.8%). This result corroborates those found by Esteve et al [14] in 2022 in Spain (72.3%), Miezah et al [16] in 2020 in Ghana (62.19%), Rehbein et al [3] in 2010 in the USA (90%). However, in 2016 in France, Dany et al [6] found a female predominance of 69.1% versus 30.9% for males.…”

“…According to this study, 52.2% of pupils attended private schools. This result is Open Journal of Psychiatry similar to that of Esteve et al [14] in 2022 in Spain (40.0%). Although not significant, being enrolled in a private school is often indicative of belonging to a social class capable of offering greater accessibility to video games.…”

“…In this study, the average age of gamers with problem was 15.19 ± 2.6 years, with a predominance of the [13 -18] age group (148; 57.8%). This average age is approximately similar to the 14.66 ± 0.67 found by Esteve et al [14] in 2022 in Spain, but lower than the 17.64 ± 3.02 found by Schmitt et al in 2015 in France [15].…”

“…On the other hand, lower prevalences than in the present study have been reported by Esteve et al [14] in 2022 in Spain (16.4%), Diarra [7] in 2020 in Mali (14.4%), Männikko et al [17] in 2015 in Finland (9.1%), Givron et al [5] in 2018 in France (11.4%), Batthyány et al [18] in 2009 in Austria (12.3%) and Ricquebourg et al [4] (8%) in France in 2013. These low prevalences could be explained by differences in the characteristics of the sample chosen (age, size), the mode of data collection and the screening scales used in these studies.…”

“…These low prevalences could be explained by differences in the characteristics of the sample chosen (age, size), the mode of data collection and the screening scales used in these studies. For example, Esteve et al in Spain limited the age of participants to the range 13 -17 years, with a sample size of 397 students [14]. Unlike the current study, there was no restriction on the age of participants.…”