A study recently published in the scientific journal, Psychological Science, found that nearly 10 percent of youths between the ages of 8-18 are “pathological” players of video games using the standard previously established for pathological gambling. The study also concluded that more pathological gamers had been diagnosed with ADD and ADHD. Douglas Gentile, who is an Assistant-Professor of Psychology at Iowa State University and also director of research for the National Institute on Media and the Family, headed the study.
Using surveys collected in 2007, from a national Harris poll of nearly 1,200 youths in the US, Douglas Gentile compared the responses to those of pathological gamblers and matched at least 11 symptoms previously established in The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. But what exactly does a pathological video gamer mean, in terms of Addiction? In this case, pathological gamers matched a number of characteristics including, playing video games 24 hours per week and having video game consoles in their bedrooms, troubles paying attention in school, poorer grades and health problems.
Gentile plans on continuing his research by carrying out clinical studies in lab settings, as well as long-term studies in hope of establishing possible risk factors and symptoms amongst pathological gamers.