Internet gaming disorder: Microstructural brain alterations and their relation to functionally assessed correlates of reward processing, inhibitory control and the self-concept

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Observational

Source

DRKS

Registry ID

DRKS00009439

Enrollment

156

Registered

2015-11-19

Start date

2016-01-04

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2025-04-07

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Online gaming addiction F63.8

Interventions

Group 1: N=52 Addicted online role-players who will be recruited via our outpatient clinic in addiction medicine or our online survey (http://www.zi-mannheim.de/behandlung/onlinesuchtverhalten.html) a

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

Male

Age

18 Years to 30 Years

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: - Men between 18 and 30 years of age - Right-handedness - Addicted gamers: Diagnosis of internet game playing addiction as assessed according to the Assessment of Internet and Computer game Addiction-Checklist (AICA-C; cutoff score=13; Wölfling, Beutel, & Müller, 2012) and the Assessment of Internet and Computer game Addiction-Self-report (AICA-S=13.5; Wölfling, Müller, & Beutel, 2008) as well as the DSM 5 criteria (APA, 2013) - Problematic gamers: AICA-S-score: 7-13 (Wölfling et al., 2008) - Healthy controls (naive and irregular gamers): No or little experience in internet gaming (AICA-S-score<7; Wölfling et al., 2008) - Abstinence from psychotropic medication within the last four weeks prior to neuroimaging assessments - Ability to provide fully informed written consent

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: - Insufficient German language skills - Restricted legal competence or deficient ability to give written informed consent after explanation of the study procedures - Deafness and blindness - Any past (during the previous twelve months) or current psychiatric disorder diagnosis according to DSM 5 as well as ICD-10 that requires pharmacological treatment: Organic, including symptomatic, mental disorders (F00 – F09), Any current or past substance dependence (F1x.x) other than nicotine (F17.x), Schizophrenia, schizotypal and delusional disorders (F20 – F29), Maniac Episode, Moderate or severe depressive episode (F30 – F33), Phobic anxiety disorders, Obsessive-compulsive disorders, Dissociative disorders that require treatment (F40 - F42, F44). - Lifetime history of organic psychiatric disorders according to DSM 5 as well as ICD-10: Organic, including symptomatic, mental disorders (F00 – F09), Schizophrenia, schizotypal and delusional disorders (F20 – F29), Bipolar affective disorder (F31). - History of severe head trauma or other severe central neurological disorder - Participants who require concomitant therapy with any medications effecting the central nervous system - MRI contraindications (i.e. pacemakers, metal in the body, epilepsy, tinnitus, piercings, claustrophobia etc.) - Positive rapid drug test (urine)

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
Microstructural brain alterations and their relation to functionally assessed correlates of reward processing, inhibitory control and the self-concept in addicted MMORPG (Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games) players, problematic MMORPG players and healthy controls are assessed by interviews [Demography, Family History, Standardized Clinical Interview to Assess Internet addiction(AICA Checklist; Wölfling et al., 2011), Age of onset of the pathological computer- and internet use, Situations of excessive computer- and internet use, Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID I and II; Wittchen, Zaudig, & Fydrich, 1997) for comorbidities] and self-rating questionnaires [(Questionnaires for Psychiatric Symptoms: ADHD Questionnaire for Adults (ADHS- SB; Rösler et al., 2007), Symptom-Checklist-90 (SCL-90; Franke, 2002), Beck Depression Inventary (BDI; Beck, Ward, Mendelson, Mock, & Erbaugh, 1961), Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND; Bleich, Havemann-Reinecke, & Kornhuber, 2002), Social Anxiety and Social Competence Deficits Questionnaire (SASKO; Kolbeck & Maß, 2009), Craving Automated Scale-Internet (Nakovics et al., in preparation), Online Addiction Behaviour Scale for Adults (OSVe-S; Wölfling, Müller, Beutel, 2008), Personality inventories: Neo-Five Factor Inventory (Neo-FFI; Borkenau & Ostendorf, 1993), State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI; Spielberger, Gorsuch, & Lushene, 1970), Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS; Standford & Barratt, 1992), Zuckerman-Sensation-Seeking-Scale V (Zuckerman, 1991), Reward processing, Perception of the Self-Concept: Body Image Questionnaire (BIQ-20; Clement & Löwe, 1996), Emotional Competence Questionnaire (EKF; Rindermann, 2009), Self-Esteem Scale (SES; Rosenberg, 1965), Gießen-Test (GT; Beckmann, Brähler, & Richter, 1990)], a blood sample and three fMRI paradigms (Cue-reactivity task, Emotional Stroop Task and Self-Evaluation Task) as well as the assessment of Diffusion-weighted images (DTI). The total investigation	—

Measure

Time frame

Microstructural brain alterations and their relation to functionally assessed correlates of reward processing, inhibitory control and the self-concept in addicted MMORPG (Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games) players, problematic MMORPG players and healthy controls are assessed by interviews [Demography, Family History, Standardized Clinical Interview to Assess Internet addiction(AICA Checklist; Wölfling et al., 2011), Age of onset of the pathological computer- and internet use, Situations of excessive computer- and internet use, Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID I and II; Wittchen, Zaudig, & Fydrich, 1997) for comorbidities] and self-rating questionnaires [(Questionnaires for Psychiatric Symptoms: ADHD Questionnaire for Adults (ADHS- SB; Rösler et al., 2007), Symptom-Checklist-90 (SCL-90; Franke, 2002), Beck Depression Inventary (BDI; Beck, Ward, Mendelson, Mock, & Erbaugh, 1961), Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND; Bleich, Havemann-Reinecke, & Kornhuber, 2002), Social Anxiety and Social Competence Deficits Questionnaire (SASKO; Kolbeck & Maß, 2009), Craving Automated Scale-Internet (Nakovics et al., in preparation), Online Addiction Behaviour Scale for Adults (OSVe-S; Wölfling, Müller, Beutel, 2008), Personality inventories: Neo-Five Factor Inventory (Neo-FFI; Borkenau & Ostendorf, 1993), State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI; Spielberger, Gorsuch, & Lushene, 1970), Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS; Standford & Barratt, 1992), Zuckerman-Sensation-Seeking-Scale V (Zuckerman, 1991), Reward processing, Perception of the Self-Concept: Body Image Questionnaire (BIQ-20; Clement & Löwe, 1996), Emotional Competence Questionnaire (EKF; Rindermann, 2009), Self-Esteem Scale (SES; Rosenberg, 1965), Gießen-Test (GT; Beckmann, Brähler, & Richter, 1990)], a blood sample and three fMRI paradigms (Cue-reactivity task, Emotional Stroop Task and Self-Evaluation Task) as well as the assessment of Diffusion-weighted images (DTI). The total investigation

—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
Cue reactivity assessed by the Cue-reactivity Task during fMRI, where pictures of avatars, an unknown gender-matched real person, game-related virtual and environmentally-matched real scenery as well as scrambled pictures in a pseudo-randomized order are presented (first visit all groups, second visit twelve months later for the addicted online role-players only).	—

Countries

Germany

Contacts

Public ContactTagrid Leménager

Zentralinstitut für Seelische GesundheitKlinik für Abhängiges Verhalten und Suchtmedizin

tagrid.lemenager at zi-mannheim.de0621 1703-3907

Outcome results

None listed

Source: DRKS (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026