Electronic Gaming Disorder: An Analytical Review of Diagnosis, Underlying Factors, and Therapeutic Approaches

Abstract

This study examines Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) as a contemporary behavioral condition recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) in 2019 due to its severe psychological, social, and physical consequences. The research provides a concise overview of the disorder, its characteristics, and diagnostic criteria according to DSM-5-TR and ICD-11, along with classifications of addiction patterns and contributing psychological, social, physiological, and technological factors. A descriptive-analytical approach was applied through a review of recent literature (2017–2024) in Arab and international contexts.

Findings reveal that IGD is associated with anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, social isolation, poor academic performance, and physical issues such as joint pain and weight gain. Excessive gaming is driven by factors including attractive game design, reward mechanisms, social pressures, and dopamine-related neurobiological changes. The study recommends preventive and therapeutic strategies and calls for national policies to mitigate its negative mental and social impacts