Internet Gaming Disorder: A Real Disorder or a Way of Coping? A Case Series

Abstract

Internet gaming disorder (IGD) is frequently associated with comorbid psychological issues, and apparently, there exists a bidirectional relationship that either of them predisposes the other. It still remains an enigma whether IGD is an individual entity or a coping mechanism. Here, we aim to describe IGD in 4 adolescent males with comorbid psychiatric or psychosocial conditions using a developmental approach and to bring out different interplays between gaming behavior, psychopathology, and environment. This article also aims at exploring how IGD can be understood as a way of coping with another psychological condition, identifying which could be a key factor in the management.