Cognitive behavioural therapy can reduce symptoms of gaming and internet addiction

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2022-02-19 03:00

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An intervention program based in cognitive behavioural therapy can reduce the symptoms of gaming disorder and unspecified internet use disorder in teens, according to international research. The study split a group of 422 teens at risk of gaming or internet addiction into two, with one half receiving the Cognitive Behavioural Therapy course while the other half did not. Following up a year later, the researchers say the severity of symptoms of gaming and internet disorders reduced by 39.8 per cent for the group who undertook the course, compared to 27.7 per cent for those who didn't. While symptoms decreased, the researchers say there was no significant difference in incidence rates of the disorders between the groups after a year.