Video game addiction & depression rates among online video game players

Few studies have examined symptoms of addiction or depression related to videogame use. This study aimed to explore whether videogame players experience dysfunction related to their playing habits. It attempts to assess both levels of depression in players, using the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI), and symptoms of addiction, using a modified Internet Addiction Scale/Test (IAS). Results indicated that players did not have higher rates of depression than the college population on which the BDI was normed, but did show high levels of symptoms commonly associated with abuse or addiction, with three quarters scoring as having frequent or significant impairment on the IAS. Differences between abuse of and addiction to videogames was discussed, as were the limitations of using the modified IAS as an assessment tool for videogame addiction and the possible sample skew by targeting users of one specific videogame through user forums online. Participant feedback indicated most were aware of the potential for negative symptoms and almost 50% felt they may be addicted to video game play. Participants also indicated that video games can have positive psychological effects and that failing to assess for these was a major limitation of the study.