The Canadian Journal of Addiction, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 14(3), P. 4 - 6

Published: Sept. 1, 2023

The global video gaming market has surged in recent years. Valued at more than $200 billion CAD and continuing to expand, now constitutes the largest entertainment industry.1 Indeed, a growing population of 3 adults report playing games.2 Although an innocuous pastime for most, subpopulation gamers, may become excessive. Excessive contributes variety adverse outcomes, including impaired academic social functioning, increased aggressive oppositional behaviours, reduced sleep quality, poorer overall physical mental health.3,4 Consequently, understanding its risk factors is critical. Acknowledging potential problematic, disorder recognized as addictive International Classification Diseases 11 characterized by control over gaming, continuation despite negative consequences, prioritization other life interests.5 Diagnostic Statistical Manual Mental Disorders similarly highlights internet recommended condition further study, with diagnostic criteria mirroring those disorders.6 Recent data suggest that approximately three percent adolescents globally meet disorder––comparable prevalence some substance use disorders exceeding gambling disorder.7,8 Together, these formal recognitions high estimates have precipitated burgeoning field research seeking understand biological, psychological, subserving protection against disorder,9–11 convergence disorders.12 Still, expansion concomitant broadening population, new empirical incorporating multidisciplinary cross-cultural perspectives are needed whom what contexts be heightened. To this end, we pleased introduce special issue Canadian Journal Addiction, featuring 5 papers describing advances research. NEUROBIOLOGICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL CORRELATES OF GAMING DISORDER Mounting evidence suggests disorder, though behavioural addiction, important neurobiological underpinnings. Mestre-Bach Potenza13 consolidate evidence, providing narrative review studies investigating neural correlates treatment. Neural identified were both structural functional. Structurally, Potenza present differences grey matter volume white integrity several brain regions, implicated cognitive control, attention, emotion regulation––functions that, they argue, contribute presentation hallmark characteristics impulsivity, reward sensitivity, self-medication. Functionally, authors findings from resting state task-based fMRI support activity functional connectivity regions networks associated functions such response inhibition, decision-making, cue reactivity. also summarize extant literature on treatment, propounding changes frontostriatal subcortical recovery following pharmacological psychological interventions. This underscores importance study underpinnings inform prevention, maintenance, CONTEXTUAL Critical fulsome consideration cultural context which it studied. de Andrade et al14 outline theoretical pragmatic challenges treatment Brazil, houses South America. note cross-culturally, very concept poorly defined, attributable considerable variability activities considered "games" degrees impairment constitute "disorder." They caution obscurity conceptualization lead overpathologization benign gaming. describe limitations inadequate resources, regional inequality productivity, dearth gaming-specific programs. al conclude proposed solutions researchers, clinicians, policymakers. early months COVID-19 pandemic represented patterns particular interest. In longitudinal 332 adults, Ritchie al15 examined time spent across first 9 pandemic. Latent growth curve modelling revealed levels start pandemic, declined overtime. For older participants, decreased accelerated rate. Findings average community-based adult, trajectories not problematic during initial waves examining subsequent needed. GAMING-GAMBLING CONVERGENCE An emerging concern among researchers policymakers gamblification games; is, incorporation (often) paid, gambling-like features games, well bets wagered outcomes games. phenomenon, known convergence, implications Mills al16 articulate review. discuss gaming-gambling terms casino loot boxes, skin betting, esports play-to-earn Their areas confer modest strong increases related harms, migration problem gambling. colleagues highlight directions future extending existing using designs, gaming- gambling-related watching players engage (eg, opening boxes). Loot boxes paid virtual containers within games contain randomized items varying values. requiring wager money chance-based outcome uncertain value, perhaps clearest depiction amassed potentially element sample 608 crowdsourced Slattery Yakovenko17 investigated gaming-related traits motivations predictors box purchasing. found when controlling completionism (the need collect in-game items) perceived pressure greater spending underscoring contextual shaping gamers' engagement CONCLUSION FUTURE DIRECTIONS articles featured provide novel insight into individual point First, included lack literature. Such designs elucidate psychosocial antecedents long-term individual-level population-level consequences. Second, continues gamers will likely increasingly heterogeneous group. Person-centered analytic techniques, latent variable mixture modelling, would beneficial characterizing heterogeneity reveal distinct subgroups people disorder. Third, clarify construct should focus theory building bottom-up, person-centered approaches incorporate experts lived experience. Moreover, improved consider variation Collectively, advance prevention intervention.

Language: Английский