Therapy for Gaming Disorder: New Applications of Old Solutions
Technology addiction and screen time are topics of increased concern, but often the discussion does not focus on solutions. In this video, John Torous, MD discusses a new randomized clinical trial that explores the efficacy of CBT to guide patients in their recovery.
John Torous, MD, MBI offers insights about a randomized clinical trial by Wölfling and colleagues1 that offers high-quality evidence for helping patients reduce symptoms related to technology addiction.
Applying principles of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), the study authors created a new therapy which they randomized patients with gaming disorder too. Results of remission in 69% of patients receiving the therapy versus 23% in the waitlist group highlight the potential of this novel therapy.
Dr Torous is Director of the Digital Psychiatry Division, Department of Psychiatry at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston; Editor in Chief of JMIR Mental Health; and Digital Psychiatry Editor for Psychiatric Times. Twitter: @JohnTorousMD.
Disclosures:
Dr Torous reports receiving unrelated research support from Otsuka.
References:
1. Wölfling K, Müller KW, Dreier M, et al. Efficacy of Short-term Treatment of Internet and Computer Game Addiction: A Randomized Clinical Trial.JAMA Psychiatry. 2019 Jul [Epub ahead of print].
