The effect of methylphenidate on Internet video game play in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
OBJECTIVE
A number of studies about attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and Internet video game play have examined the prefrontal cortex and dopaminergic system. Stimulants such as methylphenidate (MPH), given to treat ADHD, and video game play have been found to increase synaptic dopamine. We hypothesized that MPH treatment would reduce Internet use in subjects with co-occurring ADHD and Internet video game addictions.


METHODS
Sixty-two children (52 males and 10 females), drug-naive, diagnosed with ADHD, and Internet video game players, participated in this study. At the beginning of the study and after 8 weeks of treatment with Concerta (OROS methylphenidate HCl, Seoul, Korea), participants were assessed with Young's Internet Addiction Scale, Korean version (YIAS-K), Korean DuPaul's ADHD Rating Scale, and the Visual Continuous Performance Test. Their Internet usage time was also recorded.


RESULTS
After 8 weeks of treatment, the YIAS-K scores and Internet usage times were significantly reduced. The changes in the YIAS-K scores between the baseline and 8-week assessments were positively correlated with the changes in total and inattention scores from the Korean DuPaul's ADHD Rating Scale, as well as omission errors from the Visual Continuous Performance Test. There was also a significant difference in the number of omission errors among non-Internet-addicted, mildly Internet addicted, and severely Internet addicted participants.


CONCLUSIONS
We suggest that Internet video game playing might be a means of self-medication for children with ADHD. In addition, we cautiously suggest that MPH might be evaluated as a potential treatment of Internet addiction.
Department of Psychiatry, Chung Ang University Medical School, Seoul 140-757, South Korea.
Doug Hyun
DH
Han
Young Sik
YS
Lee
Churl
C
Na
Jee Young
JY
Ahn
Un Sun
US
Chung
Melissa A
MA
Daniels
Charlotte A
CA
Haws
Perry F
PF
Renshaw
D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013028:Space Perception; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D018910:Video Games / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014796:Visual Perception
D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D008774:Methylphenidate; D004298:Dopamine