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Children and young adults who are addicted to gaming or communication apps have brain and functional changes, according to multiple studies, including low gray matter in subgenual anterior cingulate, nucleus accumbens, and orbitofrontal regions; white-matter changes; and lower IQ (e.g.,NEJM JW Psychiatry Apr 2018 and Sci Rep 2018; 8:2155). Finding a valid diagnostic screening method would be useful for early intervention. Researchers compared children's self-reports of Internet gaming disorder symptoms (N=2319 children in third, fourth, and seventh grades) with clinical diagnostic interviews.
Children who screened at least minimally positive for proposed DSM-5 Internet gaming disorder (IGD), provided illogical answers, or were suicidal under…