Treatment of Gaming Disorder in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review

Given the disproportionate burden of gaming disorder (GD) on younger populations, there is a need to comprehensively evaluate the current evidence base around treatment for children and adolescents. This systematic review aimed to summarize the available literature on GD treatment in younger populations.

A systematic search of five databases was conducted. Studies were eligible if they 1) evaluated psychological or pharmacological interventions targeting GD in children, adolescents, or parents seeking help for their children; 2) had at least one outcome of GD severity or gaming duration/frequency; and 3) employed a randomized controlled trial or quasi-experimental design. Study quality was assessed using the Effective Public Health Practice Project tool.

Thirty studies were included in the review, comprising 2157 participants. Interventions based on or delivered in combination with cognitive-behavioral therapy were the most frequently studied (n=19), while a diverse range of other treatments (e.g., pharmacotherapy, online psychoeducation, and equine-assisted therapy) were explored in fewer studies. Despite promising findings across studies, the overall quality of evidence was inconsistent, with many studies lacking randomization, control groups, and long-term follow-up. Additionally, cross-study comparisons may have been limited by the variability in GD measures across studies, with 19 different assessment tools identified.

Although research on the treatment of GD in children and adolescents has grown, it remains in its early stages. To advance evidence-based treatment, future research should prioritize methodologically rigorous designs, standardized outcome measures, and long-term follow-up assessments.