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Conceptual and Methodological Considerations of Gaming Disorder and Internet Gaming Disorder

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Textbook of Addiction Treatment

Abstract

This chapter provides an overview of the current conceptual and methodological challenges in light of gaming disorder recently being included in the ICD-11 (WHO, Gaming disorder, 2018). This is discussed in reference to the DSM-5 (APA, Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. 5th ed. Arlington: American Psychiatric Association, 2013) with its more tentative approach of adding Internet gaming disorder (IGD) in the appendix as a condition for further study. The debate is summarised to present the disparities between these two diagnostic manuals, along with a range of other key conceptual challenges which call for a cautious approach when inferring diagnostic efficacy from these clinical manuals. These issues include definitional differences, impact of game classifications and the various behaviours afforded to these based on game type, game function and form of gaming. Further to this, methodological issues are drawn out to highlight the potential limitations of the academic evidence base in this field. As such, this chapter provides a critical review of the conceptual issues with considerations of the practical and clinical implications.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Edge Hill University, Ormskirk, UK

    Linda K. Kaye

  2. Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK

    Daria J. Kuss

  3. University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany

    Hans-Jürgen Rumpf

Authors
  1. Linda K. Kaye
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  2. Daria J. Kuss
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  3. Hans-Jürgen Rumpf
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Daria J. Kuss or Hans-Jürgen Rumpf .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Addiction Department of Psychiatry, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada

    Nady el-Guebaly

  2. Mental Health Department, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Monza e Brianza, Italy

    Giuseppe Carrà

  3. Division of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Department of Psychiatry, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA

    Marc Galanter

  4. Population and Behavioural Science Division (Psychiatry and Addictions), University of St Andrews, St.Andrews, UK

    Alexander M. Baldacchino

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Kaye, L.K., Kuss, D.J., Rumpf, HJ. (2021). Conceptual and Methodological Considerations of Gaming Disorder and Internet Gaming Disorder. In: el-Guebaly, N., Carrà, G., Galanter, M., Baldacchino, A.M. (eds) Textbook of Addiction Treatment. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-36391-8_68

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