Existential implications of internet gaming disorder (IGD).

Abstract

Internet gaming disorder (IGD), a condition warranting further study in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual 5, has received considerable research attention in recent years (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Characterized by problematic and repetitive use of Internetbased games, research suggests a complex etiology and that frequent usage, in and of itself, is not necessarily always problematic. Common motivations for intense usage, such as feelings of isolation, distress, and boredom may, in part, reflect an individual's best attempts to navigate contact with the 'ultimate' anxieties identified by Yalom (1980). This article reviews the research pertaining to IGD, conceptualizes the disorder from an existentialhumanistic therapy (E-H) perspective, and concludes with an explanation of how E-H can offer a unique treatment perspective from which to work with clients struggling with problematic online gaming concerns within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

Sex differences of neural connectivity in internet gaming disorder and its association with sleep quality: an exploratory fMRI study

“…Online gaming is now enjoyed by many for leisure and entertainment, but when it becomes continuous or repetitive, it can impair social functioning and/or produce clinical symptoms, potentially evolving into internet gaming disorder (IGD) ( 1 , 2 ). The existence of IGD is still debated as a standalone psychiatric condition ( 3 , 4 ).…”