Psychopathology and Gaming Disorder in Adolescents

Is preexisting psychopathology associated with subsequent gaming disorder among adolescents, or is compulsive gaming associated with the development of psychopathology?In this cohort study of 4289 adolescents, longitudinal models revealed that higher baseline levels of psychopathology were significantly associated with an increased risk of developing gaming disorder 1 year later. However, there was no significant association between gaming disorder and the development or worsening of psychopathology.These findings suggest that preexisting psychopathology is associated with the development of gaming disorder among adolescents.

Corresponding Author: René Weber, MD, PhD, Department of Communication, Media Neuroscience Lab, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106 (renew@ucsb.edu).

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