Therapy for Gaming Disorder: New Applications of Old Solutions

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].