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Neuroimaging findings in adolescent gaming disorder: a systematic review

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 July 2023

E. Khor ,
N. McNamara ,
D. Columb Open the ORCID record for D. Columb [Opens in a new window]  and
F. McNicholas
E. Khor
Affiliation:
University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
N. McNamara
Affiliation:
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, St John of God Hospital, Stillorgan, Co Dublin, Ireland
D. Columb*
Affiliation:
Linn Dara CAMHS North Kildare, Celbridge, Co Kildare, Ireland
F. McNicholas
Affiliation:
University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland Department of Paediatric Liaison Psychiatry, CHI Crumlin, Crumlin, Dublin 12, Ireland Lucena CAMHS Rathgar, Orwell Road, Rathgar, Dublin 6, Ireland
*
Corresponding author: D. Columb; Email: columbd@tcd.ie
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Abstract

Objectives:

Gaming disorder is a growing concern affecting adolescents, exacerbated by the impact of recent COVID-19 restrictions. The World Health Organization has recently included gaming disorder in the 11th International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11). However, there is still an ongoing debate about the validity and reliability of the proposed clinical criteria, despite growing neurobiological evidence in this cohort. Systematic reviews in this area have focused mainly on adults or mixed adult/adolescent populations. Therefore, this systematic review explored the neuroimaging literature in adolescents (under 18 years old) with gaming disorder.

Methods:

Using PRISMA 2020 guidelines, 3288 primary studies were identified from PubMed, CINAHL Plus, PsycINFO and Web of Science. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria (appropriate title, abstract, comparison group used within study, English-language, neuroimaging and mean age under 18), 24 studies were included in this review.

Results:

Functional and structural brain alterations in adolescent gaming disorder were noted across several imaging modalities, including electroencephalogram (EEG), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Compared with healthy controls, adolescents with gaming disorder demonstrated neurological changes comparable to substance addiction, namely impairments in emotional regulation, reward-seeking, inhibition and increased risky decision-making. Positive brain adaptations in the areas of visuospatial processing and memory were observed.

Conclusions:

A number of key brain regions are affected in adolescent gaming disorder. These findings can help clinicians understand adolescent presentations with gaming disorder from a neurobiological perspective. Future studies should focus on forming a robust neurobiological and clinical framework for adolescent gaming disorder.

Keywords

AdolescentsGaming disorderInternet gaming disorderNeuroimagingSystematic review
Type
Review Article
Information
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine , First View , pp. 1 - 13
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of The College of Psychiatrists of Ireland

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