Health expert warns of surge in Internet Gaming Disorder among adolescents

• Addiction to computer games is similar to drug addiction
• Parents urged to closely monitor their children
• Children addicted to gaming may become violent

By Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama

Health experts in Sri Lanka have warned of a spike in cases of Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) among adolescents, urging parents to closely monitor their children.

Consultant psychiatrist at the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital, Dr. Rumi Ruben, told the Daily Mirror that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has recognised excessive addiction to the Internet or computer games as a mental illness, known as IGD.

He said that IGD was accepted in the 11th edition of Psychiatry and the American Psychological Association’s Classification of Diseases.

Addiction to computer games on the Internet is similar to drug addiction.

“The person gets used to thinking of the game even when they are not in front of a smart device while giving more priority to the game. They get used to watching similar videos relating to the addicted game during their spare time. Such people are very aggressive, get angry easily, do not pay attention to lessons in school, educational or other day-to-day activities, and are disappointed with their lives,” Dr. Ruben said.

After stopping the game, they experience an overwhelming desire to play again. If they are unable to control the overwhelming desire, they may yell, shout, attack the nearest person, or hurt themselves, he said.

The lack of control over time spent gaming; prioritising gaming over other interests, important tasks, and daily responsibilities; continued or escalated gaming despite negative consequences significantly impair functioning in personal, family, social, work, or school life; denying or concealing gaming habits or the amount of time spent playing; and using video games to escape negative emotions were identified as symptoms of IGD.

The behaviour of children becomes violent by continuously watching video games, and even the parents of children who are addicted to such activities see them as a group of enemies. There is a risk of memory loss among children due to severe addiction to mobile phones and the Internet.

However, the WHO mentioned in their report that people who engage in gaming should be alert to the amount of time they spend on gaming activities, particularly when it is to the exclusion of other daily activities, as well as to any changes in their physical or psychological health and social functioning that could be attributed to their pattern of gaming behaviour.