Practical psychiatry: Taking gaming seriously – a primer for psychiatrists on gamers and gaming culture

Abstract

Objective: Up to three billion, of the eight billion people in the world, play videogames. Gaming is a significant global sociocultural influence. This primer will aid psychiatrists in understanding sociocultural milieux of gamers, who include patients and their communities. Method: A rapid narrative review. Results: Benefits include expression of personality, identity and culture through social aspects of gaming. Improved physical health, neurocognition, self-efficacy and quality of life are associated with gaming in those with certain mental health disorders including schizophrenia. Harms may include in-game discrimination, disordered gaming, as well as encouragement of online gambling. There is no longitudinal association between violent games and youth aggression. Conclusions: Psychiatrists should enquire about gaming as part of the sociocultural milieux of patients’ lives, and the perceived mental health benefits and harms of gaming.