Clinical psychology & psychotherapy
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Clin Psychol Psychother · Mar 2019
Review Meta AnalysisCognitive-behavioral therapy for Internet gaming disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Although there is sufficient research and clinical evidence to support the inclusion of gaming disorder in the latest revision of the International Classification of Diseases, relatively little is known about the effectiveness of first-line psychological treatment for gaming disorder or internet gaming disorder (IGD) as it is listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual. This systematic review employed meta-analytic techniques to determine the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) for IGD on four key outcomes: IGD symptoms, anxiety, depression, and time spent gaming. ⋯ Given the rise in treatment demand for internet gaming disorder (IGD) and problematic gaming, it is necessary to determine which treatments are most effective for whom and under which conditions. This review shows that cognitive-behavioural therapy for IGD, which is often considered the first-line therapy, can improve IGD symptoms and comorbid depression. However, treatment gains tend to be short-term and their effect in reducing time spent gaming is unclear. Programs that target problematic gaming may be improved by additional support beyond the standard program of therapy sessions. More funding and resources are needed to support the development of a more rigorous evidence base on IGD and its treatment.