Clinical characteristics of computer game and internet addiction in persons seeking treatment in an outpatient clinic for computer game addiction

Objectives: Since March 2008 we have offered outpatient treatment for computer game and internet addiction. This article presents the assessment and clinical characterization of the first cohort of one year. Methods: The reasons for seeking help (phone consultations, N = 346) as well as sociodemographic and psychometric characteristics (N = 131) (assessment of computer game addiction; SCL-90R) are presented. Results: Consultation was initiated mainly by relatives mostly the mothers (86 %); 48 % report achievement failure and social isolation, lack of control (38 %) and conflicts within the family (33 %). Two-thirds of the mainly male (96%) patients (N = 131) with an average age of 22 (range 13-47) years met the criteria for pathological computer gaming, characterized by an excessive number of hours and preoccupation with gaming, high distress, and unemployment. Discussion: Symptoms resemble those of other addiction disorders. The consequences for disorder-specific treatment concepts and research are discussed.