Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) is a condition where excessive gaming disrupts daily life. It’s linked to issues like depression, anxiety, poor impulse control, and academic struggles. Medications are now being studied to help manage IGD symptoms, especially impulsivity and attention problems.

Key Medications for IGD:

• Bupropion: Improves attention and reduces impulsivity.
• Escitalopram: Helps with depression and gaming behaviors.
• Methylphenidate: Boosts attention control.

Results So Far:

• Symptom improvement rates range from 15.4% to 51.4% in clinical trials.
• Combining medication with therapy (like CBT) shows better outcomes, reducing gaming behaviors by up to 51.4%.

Challenges:

• Limited studies, small sample sizes, and underrepresentation of women.
• Side effects and long-term impacts of IGD medications are still unclear.

New Treatments:

• Techniques like tDCS and electro-acupuncture show promise in reducing gaming urges and improving brain function.

Medications, when paired with therapy, offer hope for IGD. But more research is needed to refine treatments and address gaps like gender representation and long-term effects.

Current Medications for IGD

Types of Medications

Several medications are used to target the impulsivity and attention challenges associated with IGD. These include:

• Bupropion: Helps improve attention and reduce impulsivity by boosting dopamine levels .
• Escitalopram: Addresses IGD symptoms alongside co-existing depression .
• Methylphenidate: Focuses on improving attention deficits in individuals with IGD .

These medications have been assessed in clinical trials, with results summarized below.

Treatment Results

Clinical studies highlight the effectiveness of these medications in reducing IGD symptoms. Improvement rates in trials range from 15.4% to 51.4% .

Here’s a summary of key findings:

One study found that both bupropion and escitalopram are effective, with bupropion showing particular strength in addressing attention and impulsivity issues . This research is notable as most participants (98.6%) were male and based in South Korea .

Additional nuclear imaging studies offer neurobiological evidence supporting the use of dopamine-enhancing drugs like bupropion for IGD treatment .

For individuals experiencing both IGD and major depressive disorder, research shows that medication can effectively address both conditions. Many of these studies used the Young Internet Addiction Scale to measure improvements in gaming behaviors .

Research on IGD Medications

Clinical Study Results

Studies show that medications can reduce IGD symptoms by 15.4% to 51.4% . The effectiveness depends on the type of medication used:

In a 12-week double-blind randomized controlled trial (RCT) involving 50 males with IGD and depression, a combination of bupropion and educational support led to a reduction in Internet Addiction scores and gaming time compared to a placebo. These improvements in gaming behavior were still observed at a 4-week follow-up, even though the depressive symptoms showed less improvement .

These findings highlight the potential of combining medication with behavioral strategies.

Medications Plus Therapy

Adding therapy to medication has been shown to improve outcomes even further. In one study involving 65 male adolescents with IGD and depression, those receiving both CBT and bupropion saw a 51.4% reduction in YIAS scores after 8 weeks, compared to a 33.6% reduction in the group treated with bupropion alone . After 12 weeks, the CBT-bupropion group maintained a 49.1% improvement in YIAS scores, while the bupropion-only group showed a 33.3% improvement .

Biological evidence also supports this combined approach. Nuclear imaging studies reveal that bupropion reduces functional connectivity within the Default Mode Network (DMN) and between the DMN and the cognitive control network in individuals with IGD. These neural changes are directly linked to improvements in both IGD and depression symptoms .

Programs like those offered at Ikon Recovery Center show how integrated care can deliver better results. This evidence underscores the importance of tailoring treatment by combining medication and therapy for IGD .

Limits of IGD Medications

Side Effects and Risks

Medications used for Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) show potential, but they come with risks. Psychotropic drugs like bupropion and methylphenidate, while extensively studied for other conditions, lack sufficient data on IGD-specific side effects . Specialists at centers like Ikon Recovery Center stress the importance of careful prescription practices and close monitoring to prioritize patient safety. These safety concerns also raise broader questions about the gaps in current research.

Missing Research Areas

The study of IGD pharmacotherapy faces several challenges and limitations that need addressing.

Demographics and Representation:

• Only 1.4% of participants in studies were female .
• Most research has been conducted in South Korea, limiting how findings apply to other regions .
• Around 76% of participants had co-occurring psychiatric conditions beyond IGD .

Methodological Issues:

• Many studies have small sample sizes and lack proper control groups .
• Few studies specify the types of games participants played, which could affect treatment outcomes .
• Research on medications aimed at reducing gaming cravings is minimal .

"The results of this review highlight the need for additional work in the area of treatment development and evaluation for IGD and Internet addiction. Attention to methodological concerns identified within this review should improve subsequent research related to treating these conditions, and ultimately outcomes of patients suffering from them." – Kristyn Zajac, Calhoun Cardiology Center, Department of Medicine, University of Connecticut School of Medicine

Long-term Effects:

• More research is needed to understand IGD’s natural course and identify factors that influence recovery or relapse .

These gaps underscore the importance of cautious, personalized treatment approaches for IGD and pave the way for more effective solutions tailored to individual needs.

sbb-itb-c19384b

New Developments in IGD Treatment

New Medication Options

Recent advancements have introduced promising methods for addressing IGD. Techniques like tDCS (transcranial direct current stimulation) and rTMS (repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation) are being used to improve control over gaming-related urges . For example, a study involving 15 online gamers treated with tDCS three times a week over four weeks showed notable results: reduced weekly gaming hours, lower Internet Addiction Test scores, and restored balance in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex metabolism .

Another study compared electro-acupuncture (EA) with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) over 45 days. While both approaches reduced addiction and impulsivity scores, EA showed additional benefits, such as improved brain chemistry and neuronal protection:

Custom Treatment Plans

These advancements are shaping more personalized treatment strategies that cater to individual needs. Clinicians now design interventions based on specific patient profiles, such as:

• Impulsive patients, often displaying ADHD-related traits
• Dysphoric patients, who use gaming as a coping mechanism
• Isolated patients, struggling with social anxiety

Treatment plans also consider factors like gender differences (e.g., males often show higher impulsivity, while females may face more mood-related challenges), co-occurring conditions, gaming motivations, disorder severity, and variations in age or regional influences . This tailored approach, combined with new therapies, allows healthcare providers to deliver more precise and effective care for IGD.

Related video from YouTube

Next Steps for Treatment

Building on the research and clinical findings discussed earlier, the next steps emphasize key takeaways about treatment options and how to access effective support.

Key Insights on IGD Medications

Research highlights that various medications can lead to noticeable symptom improvement. Clinical trials have shown symptom reductions ranging from 15.4% to 51.4%, with bupropion outperforming both escitalopram and no-treatment groups in effectiveness .

Combining medication with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or multi-level counseling has proven especially effective for teenagers dealing with IGD .

Accessing Help for IGD

Professional help for IGD is readily available through specialized treatment centers and mental health professionals. Research supports the combination of medication and therapy for the best results. One effective approach is CBT-IA, a structured three-phase treatment. This method has achieved impressive success rates, with over 95% of clients managing symptoms after 12 weeks and 78% maintaining recovery six months later .

"Full recovery is more than simply refraining from the Internet. Complete recovery means investigating the underlying issues that led up to the compulsive behavior and resolving those issues in a healthy manner; otherwise, relapse is likely to occur." – Kimberly S Young

For immediate assistance, you can reach out to SAMHSA‘s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP. This 24/7 service provides connections to:

• Local treatment facilities
• Support groups
• Community organizations
• Programs with sliding-scale fees
• Facilities accepting Medicare/Medicaid

Facilities like Ikon Recovery Center in Saddle Brook, NJ, offer integrated care. They blend medication management with therapies such as CBT and DBT to address IGD comprehensively.

Related Blog Posts

• How Digital CBT Supports Addiction Recovery
• Personalized Drug Therapies for Dual Diagnosis
• Why Gamification Helps in Addiction Recovery
• Naltrexone in Behavioral Addiction Treatment