Hofstedt Annika, Söderpalm Gordh Anna
Sahlgrenska Academy, Institution for Neuroscience and Physiology, Section for Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Department of Addiction and Dependency, Clinic for Gambling Disorder and Screen Health, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Front Psychiatry. 2024 Dec 10;15:1423785. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1423785. eCollection 2024.
Previous research suggests age-dependent differences in the progression of addiction, and evidence is accumulating, showing that an early initiation of gaming increases the risk for addiction. With the recent introduction of gaming disorder (GD) as a psychiatric diagnosis, there is a need to extend the knowledge of the clinical characteristics of patients seeking treatment for GD of all age groups. Compared to adolescents and young adults, less is known about treatment-seeking adults. This study aimed to investigate whether there are clinically relevant age-dependent differences among patients seeking treatment for GD.
Participants were recruited among patients seeking treatment and fulfilling diagnosis for GD at an outpatient clinic specialized in the treatment of GD. During the study period, 142 patients went through assessment for GD at the clinic, 37 did not fulfill the diagnosis for GD, and 36 declined participation, leaving a sample of 69 patients (age range = 15-56) for analysis. The sample (men, = 66; women, = 3) was divided in two age groups: adolescents and young adults (25 years or younger) and adults (26 years or older). Gaming-related data and information about psychiatric co-morbidity was collected through structured clinical interviews and questionnaires.
The adolescents and young adults (AYAs) reported a more rapid progression into problematic gaming than the adult group. The younger group developed problematic gaming four years faster than the adults. We also observed comparable clinical profiles in both groups. Both age groups had similar levels of GD as well as symptoms of psychiatric co-morbidities including possible attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and problematic gambling. We also noticed that half of our study population consisted of adults.
With the increasing prevalence of gaming in all age groups, it is unknown how the occurrence of GD will develop in different stages of life. We conclude that the adolescents and young adults had almost double as fast progression to problematic gaming than the adult group, highlighting the need for preventive strategies. The similarity in clinical profiles indicates that treatments with the same type of interventions could be offered to both age groups.
先前的研究表明，成瘾进展存在年龄依赖性差异，并且越来越多的证据表明，较早开始玩游戏会增加成瘾风险。随着最近游戏障碍（GD）被纳入精神疾病诊断范畴，有必要进一步了解各年龄段寻求GD治疗的患者的临床特征。与青少年和年轻人相比，对寻求治疗的成年人了解较少。本研究旨在调查寻求GD治疗的患者之间是否存在与临床相关的年龄依赖性差异。
在一家专门治疗GD的门诊诊所，从寻求治疗且符合GD诊断标准的患者中招募参与者。在研究期间，142名患者在该诊所接受了GD评估，37名不符合GD诊断标准，36名拒绝参与，最终留下69名患者（年龄范围 = 15 - 56岁）作为分析样本。样本（男性 = 66名；女性 = 3名）分为两个年龄组：青少年和年轻人（25岁及以下）以及成年人（26岁及以上）。通过结构化临床访谈和问卷收集与游戏相关的数据以及精神共病信息。
青少年和年轻人（AYAs）报告称，与成年组相比，他们发展为问题游戏的进程更快。较年轻的组比成年人提前四年出现问题游戏。我们还观察到两组具有相似的临床特征。两个年龄组的GD水平以及精神共病症状相似，包括可能的注意力缺陷多动障碍（ADHD）、自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）和问题赌博。我们还注意到研究人群中有一半是成年人。
随着游戏在各年龄段的日益普及，尚不清楚GD在人生不同阶段将如何发展。我们得出结论，青少年和年轻人发展为问题游戏的进程几乎是成年组的两倍，这凸显了预防策略的必要性。临床特征的相似性表明，可以为两个年龄组提供相同类型干预措施的治疗。
