Dr. Jack Kuo, who treats video game addiction at Promises Malibu, talks about the mental health threat posed by Candy Crush vs. MMORPG games such as World of Warcraft. It seems that problem video gaming has made big news since the Flappy Bird free phone game soared to feverish use and its concerned designer pulled…
“I can’t sleep, I can’t eat, not until I’ve beaten my high score.” — Flappy Bird addict The latest twist in the story of the globally popular Flappy Bird phone app is that its creator pulled the game off the market after just weeks, calling it “too addictive.” The response to the removal of Flappy…
Digital devices are now the norm, and not just for adults; children are more plugged in than ever. If you have kids, they most likely have access to tablets, smartphones and computers. If you have ever wondered or worried about the effects of being plugged in on such a constant basis, you are not alone.…
The image of the drug addict violently attacking anyone who tries to pry his chosen substances away from him has been given a 21st century makeover. As technology becomes increasingly dominant in our society, addiction is no longer just about extracted substances and synthetic chemicals. A whole new wave of addictions is sweeping across society,…
Internet gaming disorder is the name of a proposed mental health condition designed to give mental health professionals the ability to diagnose a dysfunctional, addictive pattern of playing video games, especially games played over the Internet. Tentatively, it belongs to a group of disorders known as behavioral addictions or process addictions. The American Psychiatric Association…
Video game addiction is an unofficial term used to describe unhealthy, compulsive participation in various forms of video games. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) is considering making this condition a diagnosable mental disorder called Internet gaming disorder. In a study published in September 2013 in the journal Frontiers in Psychology, researchers from the University of…
If you spend much time on Facebook, you’ve probably seen the posters complaining about how children today are raised, proclaiming that, among other things, we used to play outside. The number of “likes” and comments on these nostalgic posts, reminiscing about the good old days and suggesting how much healthier the “old school” ways of…