ADHD Linked to Video Game Addiction

Study indicates addiction to gaming may be comorbid with ADHD.

Researchers at Iowa State University have found a link between video game addiction and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Their study, published in the May issue of the journal Psychological Science, reports that 8 percent of American children ages 8 to 18 who play video games fall are "pathological" gamers, and are addicted to video games. The pathological gamers spent twice as much time playing (24 hours per week) as nonpathological gamers, and received poorer grades in school. They were more likely to be boys and twice as likely to have been diagnosed with ADHD. Lead study author Douglas Gentile suggests, "One could interpret this finding as a predictable type of comorbidity, given that many addictions are comorbid with other problems and that Internet 'addiction' has previously been found to be correlated with attention problems."

See the study on Dr. Gentile's website.