When Too Much Gaming Becomes a Disorder

This blog has discussed some of the downsides to too much screen time, but there is another type of screen time that can be even more problematic: gaming. Gaming can include game play on a gaming console, computer, hand-held device, or phone, and is a favorite pastime for some young people. When gaming begins to overtake other areas of a person’s life, however, the hobby may have evolved into a disorder.

Gaming Disorder is a condition that has been newly classified by the World Health Organization (WHO). Symptoms of Gaming Disorder include prioritizing gaming over other aspects of one’s life, continued and increased gaming use despite negative consequences (i.e., failing grades, missing life responsibilities), and being unable to stop oneself from playing video games. These symptoms and behaviors must have had significant negative consequences on one’s life for at least 12 months before being considered as Gaming Disorder.

Not everyone who enjoys gaming will develop Gaming Disorder. In fact, very few people who engage in gaming behaviors are considered to have this disorder. Of those who do display excessive gaming behaviors, research suggests that individuals with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), mood disorders, and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) may be more likely to become addicted to gaming. Further, young, single, white men with one of these conditions are most likely to develop the disorder.

By Dr. Stephanie M. Fox|2019-05-15T15:28:47+00:00May 15th, 2019|

About the Author: Dr. Stephanie M. Fox

Dr. Fox’s professional training took her throughout the Four Corners area, which inspired her practice name. In 2009, she earned a B.A. in Psychology from the University of New Mexico, graduating summa cum laude. She earned her M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Argosy University, Denver in 2012, and her Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from the Arizona School of Professional Psychology in 2016. Throughout her training, Dr. Fox has had an extensive assessment background, including conducting diagnostic, forensic, and educational/achievement evaluations with adolescents and adults. She completed a predoctoral internship at the Colorado Mental Health Institute at Fort Logan, and completed her postdoctoral work in private practice in personality and psychoeducational evaluations. Collectively, Dr. Fox has completed hundreds of evaluations covering a diverse range of issues. Dr. Fox is licensed as a Psychologist in the state of Colorado (#4709), and is also nationally certified as a Health Service Psychologist by the National Register (#55849). She is a member of the American Psychological Association, Colorado Psychological Association, and Colorado Assessment Society.