Understanding and Addressing Video Game Addiction: Recognizing Signs, Exploring Causes, Examining the ADHD Connection, and Seeking Effective Treatment

Of the billions of people worldwide who play video games, a very small subset exhibits disordered, out-of-control behaviors wherein gaming vastly impacts functioning and interferes with important aspects of living. Video game addiction — also known as "gaming disorder" and "internet gaming disorder" — is rare, but it does happen.

While research on video game addiction is just beginning to blossom, scientists have revealed a few key insights — like the fact that attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a risk factor for video game addiction. Several treatments for gaming disorder are already available, as are interventions for individuals who display at-risk and problematic gaming behaviors.

In the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Diseases, 11th Revision (ICD-11), video game addiction is recognized as "gaming disorder." In the U.S., "Internet gaming disorder" (IGD) appears as a proposed condition under the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR) that warrants further research.

As described in the ICD-11 and DSM-5-TR, video game addiction is characterized by persistent patterns of excessive gaming that result in loss of control and adverse consequences over many aspects of a person’s life.

Additional Clinical Features

Gaming behaviors exist on a spectrum from healthy to disordered (i.e., addictive). Video game addiction affects anywhere from 1% to 4% of people, though estimates on gaming disorder’s prevalence vary considerably.1 2 3 About 5% of players display problematic gaming behaviors, while another 5% exhibit at-risk gaming behaviors that could become problematic if continued.4

The causes of video game addiction are unclear, though, as with any form of addiction, a variety of complex factors are likely at play.

Playing video games does not cause ADHD, but researchers have found important links between ADHD and video game addiction.

The following treatments and interventions are available to help individuals with gaming addiction.

The content for this article was derived, in part, from the ADDitude ADHD Experts webinar titled, “Addictive Technology and Its Impact on Teen Brains” with Jeremy Edge, LPC, IGDC, which was broadcast on April 19, 2023.

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