Impulsivity and compulsivity in Internet gaming disorder: A comparison with obsessive-compulsive disorder and alcohol use disorder

Psychometric properties of the Problematic Online Gaming Questionnaire (POGQ) in a Moroccan sample of university students

BACKGROUND

The Problematic Online Gaming Questionnaire (POGQ) instrument consists of 18 items with a six-factor structure. This questionnaire is widely utilized to measure the degree of problematic online gaming, but the scale has not, up to date, been validated in Arabic language. This study aimed to assess POGQ scale validity and reliability in Moroccan context.

METHODS

The research was conducted from April to June 2023 using an online questionnaire. The selected sample involved Moroccan university students. Data were analyzed in two successive phases. First, exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was used to assess the factor structure in the first sample (n1 = 143). Then, this structure was confirmed in the second sample (n2 = 313) using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA).

RESULTS

The EFA and CFA results demonstrated that the POGQ has a six-factor structure explained 72% of the total variance. The results of this analysis provided an optimal fit to the data confirming a good performance of the measurement model (χ² = 243.6; CFI = 0.981; TLI = 0.976; RMSEA = 0.048; NFI = 0.964; IFI = 0. 981; SRMR = 0.022). The instrument showed sufficient reliability and convergent validity demonstrated by acceptable values of composite reliability (CR = 0.68-0.90), and average variance extracted (AVE = 0.50-0.75), respectively. Finally, the Arabic version of POGQ was found to have a high test-retest reliability.

CONCLUSIONS

The Arabic version of POGQ revealed adequate psychometric properties. As a result, the instrument might be used to measure the degree of problematic online gaming. The use of the POGQ is expected to further promote research on online game dependence treatment and prevention.

Problematic social media use is associated with depression and similar to behavioral addictions: Physiological and behavioral evidence

While many studies have examined the relationship between problematic social media use (PSMU) and mental health disorders, little is known about reward responsiveness mechanisms that might be driving this relationship and the neurophysiological characteristics of PSMU. We surveyed 96 undergraduate students at a private liberal arts college in upstate NY. PSMU was assessed using the Social Media Disorder Scale. Fourteen Individuals endorsing in five or more and three or less categories on the Social Media Disorder Scale were offered and underwent resting state QEEG. Mental health was assessed with the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale Short Form, Social Interaction Anxiety Scale, Penn State Worry Questionnaire, the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale, and a locally developed measure of Substance Use Disorder. Reward and motivational systems were studied using the Brief Sensation Seeking Scale, Behavioral Inhibition/Behavioral Activation Scale, and Temporal Experience of Pleasure Scale. SMDS scores were associated with poorer mental health on all measures except substance use. SMDS scores were positively associated with the behavioral inhibition scale, and the anticipatory pleasure scale. QEEG results revealed a negative association of high PSMU and right central and frontal lobeta, right central beta, and a positive association with frontal alpha asymmetry. The study replicates findings that PSMU is associated with mental health issues. Further the pattern of reward response is different compared with other addictive behaviors. QEEG results are consistent with previous work in substance use and depression.

Development and validation of Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia (K-SADS) for Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) and factor analytic assessment

OBJECTIVE

To develop and validate Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia, Present and Lifetime version (K-SADS-PL) for Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) in adolescents.

METHODS

Questions and threshold criteria of the K-SADS-IGD was generated based on the related section of K-SADS-PL. Then, the sample consist of IGD group and matched control group with no significant difference in psychiatric comorbidities from clinical settings were included to assess the psychometric properties of the K-SADS-IGD. Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor analysis were conducted to evaluate and compare DSM model of IGD and two different Models of IGD proposal in adolescents.

RESULTS

Exploratory Factor Analysis of K-SADS-IGD revealed a single factor explaining 61.469% of the total variance. Confirmatory Factor Analysis indicates that although the K-SADS-IGD model fit indices were also acceptable, Model 1, which excluded the 7th criterion of IGD criteria of DSM-5 showed better fit in adolescent population. The Likelihood Ratio Positive and the Likelihood Ratio Negative estimates for the diagnosis of K-SADS-IGD were 31.4 and 0.12, respectively, suggesting that K-SADS-IGD was beneficial for determining the presence and the absence of IGD in adolescents. Also, K-SADS-IGD could detect disordered gamers with significantly low functionality (even after controlling the impact of comorbidities) from non-disordered gamers.

CONCLUSION

K-SADS-IGD was found to be a reliable and valid instrument in adolescents. The model excluding 7th criteria of DSM-5 IGD was found to be more consistent than the current DSM-5 IGD model in the adolescent population. Therefore, the diagnostic criteria might be required to adjust according to the age group since the clinical symptomatology of IGD in adolescents may differ from that in adults. The K-SADS-IGD may meet the need for a certain and standardized tool to assess IGD in this population.

Obsessive-compulsive, harm-avoidance and persistence tendencies in patients with gambling, gaming, compulsive sexual behavior and compulsive buying-shopping disorders/concerns

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

There is a growing interest in determining the specific role of obsessive-compulsive features in different behavioral addictions. However, more studies comparing sizable clinical populations with different addictions are needed.Therefore, a main aim of the present study was to explore the presence of obsessive-compulsive features among people with different behavioral addictions (gambling disorder, internet gaming disorder, compulsive sexual behavior disorder and compulsive buying-shopping concerns). Through a clustering procedure, the existence of empirical clusters among treatment-seeking patients based on obsessive-compulsive measures was explored.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The Symptom Checklist-Revised, and the Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised were obtained from 4,010 treatment-seeking patients. Obsessive-compulsive features were measured with the obsessive-compulsive subscale of the Symptom Checklist-Revised and the harm avoidance and persistence dimensions of the Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised. Cluster analysis was applied to explore the existence of empirical groups based on obsessive-compulsive features.

RESULTS

Patients with compulsive sexual behavior disorder and compulsive buying-shopping disorder reported the highest scores on the obsessive-compulsive subscale, while patients with gambling disorder showed the lowest scores on harm avoidance, and patients with internet gaming disorder the lowest scores on persistence. Two mutually exclusive clusters were identified. Cluster 1 exhibited a more maladaptive psychopathological and personality profile than cluster.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

These results provide new evidence regarding obsessive-compulsive features in specific behavioral addictions. Therapeutic approaches should consider that different addictions may present distinct levels of obsessive-compulsive features.

Internet addiction among teenagers in a Chinese population: Prevalence, risk factors, and its relationship with obsessive-compulsive symptoms

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Internet addiction (IA) among teenagers has been reported frequently in China, although research has seldom focused on vocational high school students. This study investigated the prevalence and risk factors among this special adolescent population. Moreover, we illustrate the complex relationship between obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms, insomnia, psychological states, and IA.

METHODS

A cross-sectional design was applied to collect information from three different vocational high schools in Hunan Province, China. Socio-demographic characteristics, OC symptoms, insomnia, depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms were compared between the IA and non-IA groups. Then, a structural equation model (SEM) was established to test our hypothesis regarding different paths from OC symptoms to IA.

RESULTS

IA prevalence was 13.4% among 7990 vocational high school students. Individuals with IA were more likely to be male and students with more severe depression, stress, anxiety, and insomnia symptoms (all p < 0.001). SEM verified that OC symptoms were related to IA both directly and indirectly, where the latter relationship was mediated through insomnia or mental disorders.

LIMITATIONS

This study cannot confirm the causal relationships among the variables and should be generalized cautiously to other groups.

CONCLUSIONS

More attention should be paid to Chinese vocational high school students, especially those with more severe OC symptoms, poor mental health, and insomnia. We should consider OC symptoms, insomnia, psychological suffering, and IA together when addressing related problems.

Longitudinal association between parental involvement and internet gaming disorder among Chinese adolescents: Consideration of future consequences as a mediator and peer victimization as a moderator

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Internet gaming disorder (IGD) in adolescents is a concerning issue. Positive parenting has been found to protect against adolescent IGD, but the underlying mechanisms await further investigation. As such, this study examined the longitudinal association between parental involvement (PI) - a specific type of positive parenting understudied in the literature of adolescent gaming disorder - and IGD. Moreover, this study also tested consideration of future consequences (CFC) as a mediator and peer victimization (PV) as a moderator.

METHODS

A two-wave longitudinal research spanning 6 months apart was conducted. Participants were Chinese adolescents (final N = 434; 222 females; Mage = 14.44 years, SD = 1.56). They provided ratings on PI, PV, and IGD at Wave 1, and CFC-immediate, CFC-future, and IGD at Wave 2.

RESULTS

Descriptive statistics showed that the prevalence rate of IGD was 10.81% and 9.45% at Waves 1 and 2, respectively. Moreover, results of moderated mediation model found that after controlling for Wave 1 IGD and covariates, Wave 1 PI was associated with Wave 2 IGD via preventing adolescents who had higher levels of PV from developing a tendence of CFC-immediate and via promoting adolescents who had lower levels of PV to develop a tendence of CFC-future.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

Altogether, these results suggest that facilitative ecological systems (e.g., positive parenting and good relationships with peers) and personal strengths (e.g., positive future orientation) jointly contribute to the mitigation of adolescent IGD.

Dual Diagnosis in Adolescents with Problematic Use of Video Games: Beyond Substances

The technological revolution has led to the birth of new diagnoses, such as gaming disorder. When any addiction, including this one, is associated with other mental disorders, it is considered a dual diagnosis. The objectives of this current work were to estimate the prevalence of dual diagnoses in the adolescent general population while also considering the problematic use of video games and substance addiction and assessing its psychosocial risk factors. Thus, we carried out a cross-sectional study with a sample of 397 adolescents; 16.4% presented problematic videogame use and 3% presented a dual diagnosis. Male gender increased the probability of both a dual diagnosis (OR [95% CI] = 7.119 [1.132, 44.785]; p = 0.036) and problematic video game use (OR [95% CI] = 9.85 [4.08, 23.77]; p < 0.001). Regarding personality, low conscientiousness, openness, and agreeableness scores were predictors of a dual diagnosis and problematic videogame use, while emotional stability predicted a dual diagnosis (OR [95% CI] = 1.116 [1.030, 1.209]; p = 0.008). Regarding family dynamics, low affection and communication increased both the probability of a dual diagnosis (OR [95% CI] = 0.927 [0.891, 0.965]; p < 0.001) and problematic video game use (OR [95% CI] = 0.968 [0.945, 0.992]; p = 0.009). Regarding academic performance, bad school grades increased the probability of a dual diagnosis. In summary, male gender, certain personality traits, poor communication, and poor affective family dynamics should be interpreted as red flags that indicate an increased risk of a dual diagnosis in adolescents, which could require early intervention through specific detection programs.

Developmental Assets, Self-Control and Internet Gaming Disorder in Adolescence: Testing a Moderated Mediation Model in a Longitudinal Study

From the perspective of positive youth development, developmental assets and self-control play critical roles in promoting adolescent development. However, their effects have not been evaluated in the current issue, internet gaming disorder (IGD). IGD is gradually becoming an important social problem among worldwide youth and has been included in the eleventh International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11). Therefore, the present study was determined to investigate the relationship between developmental assets, self-control, and IGD. A two-wave longitudinal study, with each wave spanning half a year apart, was conducted in a sample of 1023 adolescents (aging from 11 to 15, 49.36% boys) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results of the moderated mediation model revealed that T1 developmental assets could predict less IGD at T2 directly or through T1 self-control indirectly. Furthermore, the moderating effect of gender was not significant in the mediation model. Overall, adolescents who experience more developmental assets are less likely to suffer IGD. Moreover, developmental assets are conducive to developing a higher level of self-control, which in turn contributes to preventing or intervening in IGD as well. Therefore, measures should be taken to construct developmental assets to prevent or reduce IGD during adolescence.

Transdiagnostic phenotypes of compulsive behavior and associations with psychological, cognitive, and neurobiological affective processing

Compulsivity is a poorly understood transdiagnostic construct thought to underlie multiple disorders, including obsessive-compulsive disorder, addictions, and binge eating. Our current understanding of the causes of compulsive behavior remains primarily based on investigations into specific diagnostic categories or findings relying on one or two laboratory measures to explain complex phenotypic variance. This proof-of-concept study drew on a heterogeneous sample of community-based individuals (N = 45; 18-45 years; 25 female) exhibiting compulsive behavioral patterns in alcohol use, eating, cleaning, checking, or symmetry. Data-driven statistical modeling of multidimensional markers was utilized to identify homogeneous subtypes that were independent of traditional clinical phenomenology. Markers were based on well-defined measures of affective processing and included psychological assessment of compulsivity, behavioral avoidance, and stress, neurocognitive assessment of reward vs. punishment learning, and biological assessment of the cortisol awakening response. The neurobiological validity of the subtypes was assessed using functional magnetic resonance imaging. Statistical modeling identified three stable, distinct subtypes of compulsivity and affective processing, which we labeled "Compulsive Non-Avoidant", "Compulsive Reactive" and "Compulsive Stressed". They differed meaningfully on validation measures of mood, intolerance of uncertainty, and urgency. Most importantly, subtypes captured neurobiological variance on amygdala-based resting-state functional connectivity, suggesting they were valid representations of underlying neurobiology and highlighting the relevance of emotion-related brain networks in compulsive behavior. Although independent larger samples are needed to confirm the stability of subtypes, these data offer an integrated understanding of how different systems may interact in compulsive behavior and provide new considerations for guiding tailored intervention decisions.

Compulsivity and impulsivity in opioid dependence

OBJECTIVE

Chronic exposure to illicit opioid drugs can cause serious health and social problems. However, less is known about the differential effect of various opioid treatments, such as methadone and buprenorphine, on neurocognitive domains such as compulsivity and impulsivity, despite their relevance to the treatment of opioid dependence.

METHODS

A total of 186 participants were recruited with a cross-sectional design: i) illicit heroin users (n = 27), ii) former heroin users stabilized on methadone MMT (n = 48), iii) a buprenorphine maintenance treatment (BMT) group (n = 18), iv) an abstinent (ABS) group with a history of opioid dependence who were previously stabilized on MMT or BMT (n = 29) and v) healthy controls (HC) (n = 64). We used the Intra-Extra Dimensional Shift (IED) and Cambridge Gambling Task (CGT) paradigms for measuring compulsivity and impulsivity constructs respectively.

RESULTS

Heightened compulsivity persisted in the heroin, buprenorphine and abstinent groups. Heroin, methadone and buprenorphine groups exhibited impaired behavioral responses to feedback, consisting of increased deliberation time and poorer risk adjustment. Higher compulsivity measures were negatively associated with opioid dose which may reflect sedation effects.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that compulsivity and impulsivity are core neurocognitive dimensions for opioid dependence which differ in their presentation according to the stage of treatment. Participants taking higher morphine equivalent doses performed better in compulsivity measures. These findings have implications for the treatment of opioid dependence and longitudinal studies are warranted.

Replicability in measures of attentional set-shifting task performance predicting chronic heavy drinking in rhesus monkeys

This study was designed to replicate and extend a previous report that the increase in performance of an attentional set-shifting task (ASST) in rhesus monkeys predicted their future alcohol drinking status as a heavy drinker (HD) or non-heavy drinker (NHD). A cohort of 6 young adult male monkeys was trained and tested under the same ASST and then underwent a alcohol self-administration protocol that maintained open-access (22 hours/day) choice of alcohol or water 7 days/week for approximately 6 months. The average improvement in performance in the ASST, as measured by a performance index, was replicated in the cohort of 6 monkeys when compared to the increase in the task performance in a previous cohort of 9 male monkeys. The alcohol self-administration protocol was then used to determine the drinking status (HD: n = 4 or NHD: n = 2) of the replicate cohort, which was accurately predicted by the performance on the ASST. Finally, individuals from both cohorts could be combined based on future drinking status of HD (n = 8) or NHD (n = 7), and the association with pre-alcohol ASST performance remained. Specifically, monkeys that had lower rates of PI improvement were more likely to become HDs. To our knowledge, this is the first study to replicate that deficits in the set-shifting performance can predict chronic heavy alcohol drinking in primates.

Did i do that? Cognitive flexibility and self-agency in patients with obsessivecompulsive disorder

Self-agency can be understood as the ability to infer causal relationships between actions and sensory events. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) patients with checking compulsions often report lack of "action-completion" sensations, possibly due to an altered sense of agency in these patients. The present study aimed to investigate whether self-agency was related to cognitive flexibility in OCD checkers. In 18 adult OCD checkers and 18 age- and gender-matched healthy controls, cognitive flexibility was assessed with the Intra-Extra Dimensional Set Shift Task (IED). Self-agency attribution was evaluated in two tasks that targeted the novel construct of "gaze-agency", the capability of an observer to identify his or her own eye movements as the cause of a concurrent event (here, an auditory beep). This technique allows sensitive measurement of agency under subtly varying investigator-controlled conditions. OCD checkers manifested significantly inferior performance correctly ascribing the beeps to their own ocular saccades than controls, even when after a hint was provided. Although cognitive inflexibility (errors on the IED) did not differ significantly between the two groups, within the OCD sample there were positive correlations between errors in self-agency attribution and total and extra-dimensional shift errors. These findings show that cognitive inflexibility is related to self-agency in OCD.

Response inhibition and memory updating in the count/nocount task: an ERP study

The present study aimed to separate the neural activities between response inhibition and memory updating processes in the Count/Nocount task. Memory load was manipulated to investigate the memory updating process. Within each trial, participants were asked to count/withhold counting the number of O/X letters in the Count/Nocount task. The participants were asked to silently add 1 if a Count letter was presented in the low load condition, and add 2 in the high load condition. Data from 28 healthy participants showed that: (1) in both high load and low load conditions, the latencies of P2 and N2 components were shorter for the Nocount than Count trials, indicating faster attentional orienting and conflict monitoring processes for the Nocount stimuli (i.e., inhibition processes triggered by the Nocount stimuli against those response execution processes triggered by Count stimuli); (2) more positive frontal P3 amplitudes were evoked for the Nocount relative to the Count stimuli, indicating a more intensive response inhibition process for the Nocount trials; (3) a more positive parietal P3 component was evoked for the low load relative to high load condition, indicating a more intensive working memory updating process for the high load condition. This load effect was absent for the frontal P3 component, suggesting that the frontal P3 might not be associated with the memory updating process. In sum, both the cognitive inhibition process (reflected by the frontal P3 component) and working memory updating process (reflected by the parietal P3 component) appear to be involved in the Count/Nocount task.

The Mediating Role of Impulsivity and the Moderating Role of Gender Between Fear of Missing Out and Gaming Disorder Among a Sample of Chinese University Students

The role of fear of missing out (FoMO) in addictive behaviors has recently attracted growing attention. In view of negative effects of gaming disorder (GD) among adolescents and emerging adults, research examining the relationship between FoMO and GD is needed, alongside the roles of impulsivity and gender in the relationship between FoMO and GD. This study examined whether impulsivity as a mediator and gender as a moderator impacted on the relationship between FoMO and GD among a sample of Chinese university students. A sample of 1,288 Chinese university students from three universities completed an online survey through the Wenjuanxing platform. The Chinese Trait-State Fear of Missing Out Scale, the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-Brief, and the Chinese Gaming Disorder Scale were used in this study. The model results indicated that impulsivity partially mediated the relationship between FoMO and GD, and that there was a larger effect size between impulsivity and GD among males. High levels of FoMO among individuals may impact on executive functions leading to more impulsivity, and are associated with GD. Gender may moderate the relationship between impulsivity and GD. This study deepens the understanding of the relationship between FoMO and GD, and provides new perspectives for practitioners to incorporate into health prevention programs to help regulate emotion, control impulsivity, and decrease GD.

Problematische Nutzung sozialer Netzwerke

Hintergrund

Die Nutzung sozialer Netzwerke ist ein zentraler Bestandteil des Alltags. Neben vielen Vorteilen wird jedoch zunehmend von subjektiven Beeinträchtigungen und negativen Konsequenzen aufgrund einer exzessiven, unkontrollierten Nutzung berichtet. Parallelen zu anderen internetbezogenen Verhaltenssüchten und substanzgebundenen Störungen lassen vermuten, dass Konstrukte wie Impulsivität, das Erleben von Craving und eine beeinträchtige Inhibitionskontrolle ebenfalls Risikofaktoren bei der Entwicklung und Aufrechterhaltung einer problematischen Nutzung sozialer Netzwerke darstellen.

Material und Methode

In der vorliegenden Experimentalstudie mit 64 Teilnehmenden im Alter von 18 bis 59 Jahren wurden ein auditives „Cue-reactivity“-Paradigma sowie eine modifizierte Version der Stopp-Signal-Aufgabe zur Erfassung von Reizreaktivität und Inhibitionskontrolle eingesetzt. Zur Erhebung von Craving, Impulsivität und der Symptomschwere einer problematischen Nutzung sozialer Netzwerke wurden Fragebogen verwendet.

Ergebnisse

Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass die Tendenz einer problematischen Nutzung mit einer höheren Impulsivität und Craving einhergeht. Die Inhibitionskontrolle sowie die Interaktion zwischen den verschiedenen Konstrukten konnten keine weitere Beiträge zur Varianzaufklärung der Symptomschwere leisten.

Schlussfolgerung

Die Ergebnisse illustrieren die Bedeutsamkeit von Impulsivität und Craving bei der Entwicklung und Aufrechterhaltung einer problematischen Nutzung sozialer Netzwerke. Darüber hinaus gilt es, die Spezifität der einzelnen Reize hinsichtlich des möglichen Konfliktpotenzials und Aufforderungscharakters sowie die damit einhergehende Relevanz spezifischer kognitiver Komponenten in weiteren Studien zu prüfen.

Astrocytic glutamate transporter 1 (GLT1) deficient mice exhibit repetitive behaviors

Glutamatergic dysregulation is known to contribute to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Astrocytic glutamate transporter 1 (GLT1) is responsible for the majority of glutamate clearance. However, the role of GLT1 in OCD-like behavior remains unclear. Here, we found that astrocytic GLT1 deficient mice showed increased wheel running activity but reduced home cage activity. Notably, they exhibited elevated grooming/rearing time and increased repetitive behavior counts in contextual and cued fear conditioning. In addition, they showed increased rearing counts in the metabolic chamber, and also augmented rearing time and jumping counts in the open field test. Taken together, our findings suggest that astrocytic GLT1 deficiency promotes OCD-like repetitive behaviors.

Monetary Reward Discounting, Inhibitory Control, and Trait Impulsivity in Young Adults With Internet Gaming Disorder and Nicotine Dependence

Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) has been considered a potential behavioral or non-substance addiction that requires further investigation. Recognition of the commonalities between IGD and Substance Use disorders (SUD) would be of great help to better understand the basic mechanisms of addictive behaviors and excessive Internet gaming. However, little research has targeted a straightforward contrast between IGD and SUD on neuropsychological aspects. The present study thus aimed to explore the associations of reward processing and inhibitory control with IGD and nicotine dependence (ND) in young adults. Fifty-eight IGD and 53 ND individuals, as well as 57 age- and gender-matched healthy controls, were assessed with a series of measurements including the Delay-discounting Test (DDT), Probability Discounting Test (PDT), the Stroop Color-Word Task, a revised Go/No Go Task, and the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11). Multivariate analysis of variance (mANOVA) models revealed that both IGD and ND groups scored higher than healthy controls on the BIS-11 attentional, motor, and non-planning impulsiveness (Cohen's d = 0.41-1.75). Higher degrees of delay discounting on the DDT were also found in IGD and ND groups compared to healthy controls (Cohen's d = 0.53-0.69). Although IGD group did not differ from healthy controls on the PDT, ND group had a lower degree of probability discounting than healthy controls (Cohen's d = 0.55), suggesting a reduction in risk aversion. Furthermore, ND subjects showed a lower correct accuracy in the incongruent trials of the Stroop task than healthy controls (Cohen's d = 0.61). On the Go/No Go task, both IGD and ND groups had a lower correct accuracy in the No-Go trials than healthy controls (Cohen's d = 1.35-1.50), indicating compromised response inhibition. These findings suggested that IGD was linked to both anomalous reward discounting and dysfunctional inhibitory control, which was comparable with one typical SUD category (i.e., ND). This study might promote a better understanding of the pathogenesis of IGD as a potential addictive disorder similar to SUD.

Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) and Gaming Disorder among Chinese University Students: Impulsivity and Game Time as Mediators

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Research into the fear of missing out (FoMO) has greatly increased in recent years. Given the negative consequences of gaming disorder (GD) among a small minority of individuals, there is an increasing need for research examining the impact of FoMO on GD. However, little is known about the roles of impulsivity and gaming time as mediators in the relationship between FoMO and GD. The present study examined whether impulsivity and gaming time mediated the relationship between FoMO (trait-FoMO and state-FoMO) and GD among Chinese university students, as well as the prevalence of GD.

METHODS

A total of 1127 university students completed an online survey including the Chinese Trait-State Fear of Missing Out Scale (T-SFoMOS-C), the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-Brief (BIS-Brief), gaming time survey, and the Chinese Gaming Disorder Scale (CGDS).

RESULTS

The prevalence of GD was 6.4% among Chinese university students. Trait-FoMO was found to indirectly impact GD via impulsivity and gamine time, whereas the direct effect of trait-FoMO on GD and the mediation effects of gaming time were not confirmed. State-FoMO impacted on GD both directly, and indirectly via the mediation effects of impulsivity as well as impulsivity and gaming time.

CONCLUSION

Trait-FoMO on GD was fully mediated via impulsivity and gaming time, whereas state-FoMO on GD was partly mediated via impulsivity and gaming time. Individuals with high levels of FoMO were more likely to show impulsivity and spend a longer time gaming, and these factors were associated with GD. These findings provide insights to incorporate into health prevention programs to help regulate emotion, control impulsivity, and decrease GD.

Psychometric properties and measurement invariance of the 7-item game addiction scale (GAS) among Chinese college students

BACKGROUND

The 7-item Gaming Addiction Scale (GAS) has been used as a screening tool for addictive game use worldwide, and this study aimed to examine its psychometric properties and measurement invariance among college students in China.

METHODS

Full-time students from multiple colleges in China were recruited. A total of 1040 completed questionnaires were used in the final analysis. Reliability of the GAS was assessed by internal consistency and split-half reliability. Validity of the GAS was assessed by structural validity, convergent validity, discriminant validity, and concurrent validity. A series of Multigroup Confirmatory Factor Analysis (MG-CFA) were conducted to test and establish measurement invariance across gender, class standing, family income and parental educational level.

RESULTS

Exploratory factor analysis revealed a unidimensional structure of the GAS. The GAS exhibited excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.951, theta coefficient = 0.953, omega coefficient = 0.959) and structural validity (χ² /df = 0.877 (p < 0.05), CFI = 0.999, TIL = 0.996, RMSEA =0.000). Concurrent validity of the GAS was confirmed by its correlation with problematic internet use, sleep quality, nine dimensions of psychiatric symptoms, and substance use. The GAS also demonstrated measurement invariance across father's educational level (Δχ2 (df) = 19.128 (12), ΔCFI = - 0.009, ΔRMSEA = 0.010 for weak factorial model; Δχ2 (df) = 50.109 (42), ΔCFI = - 0.010, ΔRMSEA = 0.007 for strict factorial model.) and mother's educational level (Δχ2 (df) = 6.679 (12), ΔCFI = 0.007, ΔRMSEA = - 0.010 for weak factorial model; Δχ2 (df) =49.131 (42), ΔCFI = - 0.009, ΔRMSEA = - 0.004 for strict factorial model), as well as partial measurement invariance across gender (except for item 2), class standing (except for item 7) and family income (except for item 5).

CONCLUSIONS

The Chinese version of the 7-item GAS can be an adequate assessment tool to assess internet gaming disorder among the college student population in China.

Cognitive Correlates in Gaming Disorder and Social Networks Use Disorder: a Comparison

Purpose of Review

This overview aims at summarizing studies, which investigated cognitive correlates of gaming disorder and of a problematic use of social networks by using behavioral experimental paradigms and brain imaging techniques.

Recent Findings

Based on theoretical models, inhibition/inhibitory control, attentional bias, executive functions, decision-making, and working memory capabilities have been identified as cognitive components, which are assumed to play a crucial role in the development and maintenance of an addictive behavior. A systematic search shows that various studies have already examined the involvement of different cognitive components in both types of potential addictive behaviors. However, the number of studies addressing cognitive correlates of social networks use disorder is very much lower compared with gaming disorder, even if there is a positive trend in terms of new publications in recent years.

Summary

Cognitive correlates have been frequently investigated in gaming disorder, as in many other disorders due to substance use or addictive behaviors. Studies on cognitive aspects involved in a problematic social networks use are still rare, but they are needed in order to further show if this phenomenon may also deserve a classification as addictive disorder. Interactions between different cognitive and affective processes are still understudied in both gaming disorder and problematic social networks use.

Delineating adaptive esports involvement from maladaptive gaming: a self-regulation perspective

The last decade has witnessed the rise of electronic sports (esports), yet little is known about how involvement in intensive esports relates to self-regulatory processes, such as executive functioning (EF). In this paper, we review the evidence on EF in problematic and non-problematic video-game use. We also consider research on EF in traditional sports athletes, as well as in 'exercise addiction'. The focus of the review is on two core components of EF, namely response inhibition and cognitive flexibility. The available evidence suggests that EF is a reliable marker for indexing specific types of sport and video-gaming expertise, but does not appear to consistently delineate maladaptive from adaptive video-game involvement. Future research avenues on EF that characterize esport players are suggested to advance this area.

Problematic internet use: an exploration of associations between cognition and COMT rs4818, rs4680 haplotypes

OBJECTIVE

Problematic internet users suffer from impairment in a variety of cognitive domains. Research suggests that COMT haplotypes exert differential effects on cognition. We sought to investigate differences in the genetic profiles of problematic internet users and whether those could shed light on potential cognitive differences.

METHODS

We recruited 206 non-treatment seeking participants with heightened impulsive traits and obtained cross-sectional demographic, clinical, and cognitive data as well as the genetic haplotypes of COMT rs4680 and rs4818. We identified 24 participants who presented with problematic internet use (PIU) and compared PIU and non-PIU participants using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and chi square as appropriate.

RESULTS

PIU was associated with worse performance on decision making, rapid visual processing, and spatial working memory tasks. Genetic variants were associated with altered cognitive performance, but rates of PIU did not statistically differ for particular haplotypes of COMT.

CONCLUSION

This study indicates that PIU is characterized by deficits in decision making and working memory domains; it also provides evidence for elevated impulsive responses and impaired target detection on a sustained attention task, which is a novel area worth exploring further in future work. The effects observed in the genetic influences on cognition of PIU subjects imply that the genetic heritable components of PIU may not lie within the genetic loci influencing COMT function and cognitive performance; or that the genetic component in PIU involves many genetic polymorphisms each conferring only a small effect.

Altered core networks of brain connectivity and personality traits in internet gaming disorder

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Although the Internet has provided convenience and efficiency in many areas of everyday life, problems stemming from Internet use have also been identified, such as Internet gaming disorder (IGD). Internet addiction, which includes IGD, can be viewed as a behavioral addiction or impulse control disorder. This study investigated the altered functional and effective connectivity of the core brain networks in individuals with IGD compared to healthy controls (HCs).

METHODS

Forty-five adults with IGD and 45 HCs were included in this study. To examine the brain networks related to personality traits that influence problematic online gaming, the left and right central executive network (CEN) and the salience network (SN) were included in the analysis. Also, to examine changes in major brain network topographies, we analyzed the default mode network (DMN).

RESULTS

IGD participants showed lower functional connectivity between the dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and other regions in the CEN than HC participants during resting state. Also, IGD participants revealed reduced functional connectivity between the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex and other regions in the SN and lower functional connectivity in the medial prefrontal cortex of the anterior DMN. Notably, in IGD individuals but not HC individuals, there was a positive correlation between IGD severity and effective connectivity and a positive correlation between reward sensitivity and effective connectivity within the ventral striatum of the SN.

CONCLUSIONS

Problematic online gaming was associated with neurofunctional alterations, impairing the capacity of core brain networks.

Altered brain activities associated with cue reactivity during forced break in subjects with Internet gaming disorder

BACKGROUND

Studies have proven that forced break can elicit strong psychological cravings for addictive behaviors. This phenomenon could create an excellent situation to study the neural underpinnings of addiction. The current study explores brain features during a cue-reactivity task in Internet gaming disorder (IGD) when participants were forced to stop their gaming behaviors.

METHODS

Forty-nine IGD subjects and forty-nine matched recreational Internet game users (RGU) were asked to complete a cue-reactivity task when their ongoing gaming behaviors were forced to break. We compared their brain responses to gaming cues and tried to find specific features associated with IGD.

RESULTS

Compared with RGU, the IGD subjects showed decreased activation in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), parahippocampal gyrus, and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). Significant negative correlations were observed between self-reported gaming cravings and the baseline activation level (bate value) of the ACC, DLPFC, and parahippocampal gyrus.

CONCLUSIONS

IGD subjects were unable to suppress their gaming cravings after unexpectedly forced break. This result could also explain why RGU subjects are able to play online games without developing dependence.

Depression and Disordered Gaming: Does Culture Matter?

The dearth of evidence related to cultural and gender variations of established associations between Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) and other psychopathologies has been highlighted. Accordingly, the present study examined the association between depression and disordered gaming behaviors, while considering cultural perspectives of vertical individualism (independence and hierarchy) and gender as potentially variating factors. To achieve this, an ethnically diverse online sample of internet gamers from multicultural societies (N = 1032; Australia = 738; 71.5%; USA = 222; 21.5%; other multicultural countries = 72; 13.3%; Mage = 24 years; males = 503 [48.7%], females = 529 [51.3%]) completed the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale–Short-Form (IGDS9-SF); the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) and the Individualism and Collectivism Scale (ICS). Regression, moderation and moderated moderation analyses were conducted. Results demonstrated that gamers presenting concurrently with symptoms of depression and vertically individualistic inclinations reported higher levels of disordered gaming behaviors, with no significant gender differences. The findings obtained imply that practitioners globally, and especially in multicultural societies (e.g., Australia, USA), should consider cultural differences when developing prevention and intervention strategies for disordered gaming.

Impulsivity and Response Inhibition Related Brain Networks in Adolescents With Internet Gaming Disorder: A Preliminary Study Utilizing Resting-State fMRI

Background and Aims: Internet gaming disorder (IGD), as a relapse disease, has become a common mental health problem among Asian teenagers. Functional connections in the prefrontal lobo-striatum affect changes in impulsivity and inhibition. Therefore, exploration of the directional connections of the relevant brain regions in the prefrontal-striatal circuit and the synchronization level of the two hemispheres will help us to further understand the neural mechanism of IGD, which can provide guidance for the development of prevention and intervention strategies. Methods: Twenty-two adolescents with IGD, recruited through various channels, composed the IGD group. Twenty-six subjects, matching age, gender, and education level, were included in a recreational internet game users (RGUs) control group. Impulsivity and response inhibition were tested via general questionnaire, the Internet Addiction Test (IAT), the Barratt impulsivity scale-11 (BIS-11), and a Stroop color-word task. A Granger causality analysis (GCA) was used to calculate the directional connection between the prefrontal and striatum with the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) as a region of interest (ROI). We chose voxel-mirrored homotopic connectivity (VMHC) to determine brain hemisphere functional connectivity in the prefrontal-striatal circuits. Results: We found significant differences in impulsivity between the IGD group and RGU group, with members of the IGD group exhibiting higher impulsivity. Additionally, the response inhibition of adolescents with IGD in the Stroop color-word task was impaired. There was a significant difference in the directed connection of the left DLPFC and dorsal striatum between the IGD group and the RGU group. Conclusions: This study confirmed the role of prefrontal-striatal circuits in the neural mechanism of IGD in adolescents. In the IGD group, bilateral cerebral medial orbitofrontal cortex (mOFC) synchronization was significantly reduced, which indicated that mOFC signal transmission in both hemispheres of the brain might be affected by impulse behavior and impaired response inhibition.

The Development of the Turkish Craving for Internet Gaming Scale (CIGS): A Validation Study

As the use of digital technology has increased, abuse and addiction to technology have been identified among a minority of users. In the mid-1990s, the concept of internet addiction was first used. Today, almost every digital technology use has been claimed to have a minority of disordered users. One key aspect of addictive substance behaviors is craving. Craving is also an important component of behavioral addictions including digital technology disorders such as Internet Gaming Disorder. The aim of the present study was to develop the Turkish version of the Craving for Internet Gaming Scale (CIGS) via an adaptation of the Penn Alcohol Craving Scale (PACS). The present study comprised 368 adolescents from four different samples. The measures used included the Craving for Internet Gaming Scale, Digital Game Addiction Scale, and Brief Self-Control Scale. The structural validity of CIGS was investigated with Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), and criterion validity. The reliability of CIGS was evaluated using Cronbach α internal consistency reliability coefficient and corrected item total correlation coefficients. As a result of EFA, it was found that the five-item CIGS had a single-factor structure. The unidimensional CIGS obtained as a result of EFA was tested with CFA. As a result of CFA, the unidimensional structure of CIGS was confirmed in two different samples. Criterion validity of CIGS was assessed via digital gaming addiction, self-discipline, impulsiveness, daily internet gaming duration, and internet gaming history. As a result of criterion analysis, CIGS was associated with these variables in the expected direction. Finally, according to reliability analysis, the CIGS was found to be a reliable scale. When validity and reliability analysis of the CIGS are considered as a whole, it is concluded that the CIGS is a valid and reliable scale that assesses craving for internet gaming.

TouchScreen-based phenotyping: altered stimulus/reward association and lower perseveration to gain a reward in mu opioid receptor knockout mice

While the contribution of Mu Opioid Receptors (MORs) to hedonic aspects of reward processing is well-established, the notion that these receptors may also regulate motivation to gain a reward, and possibly other related cognitive dimensions, has been less investigated. The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is a critical site for these processes. Our previous functional magnetic resonance imaging study found alterations of functional connectivity (FC) in reward/aversion networks in MOR knockout mice. Here we pursued voxelwise seed-based FC analyses using the same dataset with a focus on the PFC. We observed significant reduction of PFC FC in mutant mice, predominantly with the nucleus accumbens, supporting the notion of altered reward-driven top-down controls. We tested motivation for palatable food in a classical operant self-administration paradigm, and found delayed performance for mutant mice. We then evaluated motivational and cognitive abilities of MOR knockout mice in TouchScreen-based behavioral tests. Learning was delayed and stimulus/reward association was impaired, suggesting lower hedonic reward value and reduced motivation. Perseverative responses were decreased, while discriminatory behavior and attention were unchanged, indicative of increased inhibitory controls with otherwise intact cognitive performance. Together, our data suggest that MORs contribute to enhance reward-seeking and facilitate perseverative behaviors. The possibility that MOR blockade could reduce maladaptive compulsivity deserves further investigation in addiction and self-control disorder research.

Validation of the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale- short form among Indian adolescents

BACKGROUND

Impulsivity is widely assessed with a 30 item self-report measure known as the Barrratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11). Further development involved creation of an abbreviated version, called Barratt Impulsiveness Scale- short form (BIS-15; Spinella, 2007) from the original BIS-11. Unlike the original BIS-11, BIS-15 has not undergone sufficient cross cultural validation especially among the adolescent population.

AIM

To evaluate the factor structure and psychometric properties of BIS-15 among school and college attending Indian adolescents.

METHOD

A total of 1806 adolescents (females = 48%, mean age = 17.14 years) completed BIS-15 questionnaire, strengths and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ) and a risk taking questionnaire that assessed adolescents level of involvement in two protypical risky behaviours- substance use and unsafe sexual behaviours.

RESULTS

The results of the principal component analysis of BIS-15 items revealed a three factor structure: attentional, motor and non-planning impulsivity. The internal consistency of BIS-15 was 0.79. The total score on BIS-15 was significantly associated with the externalizing, internalizing and total difficulty score on SDQ. Significant associations were observed between BIS-15 total impulsivity score and the level of risk taking among adolescents. Further, the results also revealed gender variance in impulsivity scores where male adolescents scored higher on attentional and non-planning impulsivity as compared to female adolescents.

CONCLUSION

BIS-15 is a reliable measure of impulsivity that can be used with Indian adolescent population. It would be particularly more suitable for use in settings that require comprehensive assessment of trait impulsivity in shorter time duration and without burdening the participants.

Increased Attentional Bias Toward Visual Cues in Internet Gaming Disorder and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: An Event-Related Potential Study

Internet gaming disorder (IGD) is a newly identified potential addiction disorder associated with compulsive internet-game playing behavior and attentional bias toward online gaming- related cues. Attentional bias toward addiction-related cues is the core feature of addiction that is associated with craving, but the pathophysiology of attentional bias in IGD is not well-understood, such as its relationship to compulsivity. In this study, we used the electrophysiological marker of late positive potential (LPP) to compare attentional bias in IGD and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Twenty patients with IGD, 20 patients with OCD, and 23 healthy control (HC) subjects viewed a series of game-related, OCD-related, and neutral pictures while their event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded. The game-related cues included in-game screen captures of popular internet games. The OCD-related cues included pictures which provokes obsessive and compulsive symptoms of contamination/washing or checking. LPPs were calculated as the mean value of amplitudes between 350 and 750 ms at the centro-parietal (CP1, CPz, CP2) and parietal (P1, Pz, P2) electrode sites. Higher LPP amplitudes were found for game-related cues in the IGD group than in the HCs, and higher LPP amplitudes were observed in the OCD group for OCD-related cues. The IGD group did not exhibit LPP changes in response to OCD-related cues. Subjective scales demonstrated increased arousal to game-related cues and OCD-related cues in both the IGD and OCD groups compared with the HC group. Increased LPPs in response to disorder-specific cues (game-related and OCD-related) were found in both IGD and OCD groups respectively, although the groups showed overlapping arousal on subjective scales. Our results indicate that LPP is a candidate neurophysiological marker for cue-related craving in IGD.