Internet gaming disorder in children and adolescents with cognitive disengagement syndrome

Our aim was to compare the severity of illness, functionality, emotional and behavioral problems, and neurocognitive deficits in children diagnosed with Cognitive Disengagement Syndrome (CDS) with comorbid Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) and healthy controls, and also to compare the groups with and without comorbid Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in these areas in patients with CDS.

One hundred and twenty-one children between the ages of 8 and 18 were included, either with CDS or not having CDS (control group). Children and their families were evaluated using the Conners Parent Rating Scale-Revised Brief, Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire(SDQ), the IGD Scale, the Conners Parent Rating Scale-Revised Short, and the Barkley Child Attention Scale (BCAS). CDS cases were also evaluated with the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-IV (WISC-IV), Clinic Global Impression Scale(CGI), and Children's Global Assessment Scale.

The CDS group was found to have worse outcomes in BCAS, SDQ subtest scores, and some of the IGD subtest scores when compared to healthy controls. In the CDS group with comorbid ADHD, significant differences were observed in BCAS, SDQ subtests, IGD Scale subtests, CGI, and WISC-IV scores compared to participants with CDS but without comorbidities. Both CDS and ADHD were found to have relationships with the IGD scores.

CDS and control groups were compared in terms of emotional and behavioral problems, symptoms of IGD, oppositional defiance, cognitive problems-inattention, and hyperactivity symptoms. It contributes to the literature as the first study to evaluate the relationship between CDS and IGD symptoms in children.