title: [Clinical characteristics of computer game and internet addiction in persons seeking treatment in an outpatient clinic for computer game addiction].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Since March 2008 we have offered outpatient treatment for computer game and internet addiction. This article presents the assessment and clinical characterization of the first cohort of one year.
  
  
  METHODS
  The reasons for seeking help (phone consultations, N=346) as well as sociodemographic and psychometric characteristics (N=131) (assessment of computer game addiction; SCL-90R) are presented.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Consultation was initiated mainly by relatives--mostly the mothers (86%); 48% report achievement failure and social isolation, lack of control (38%) and conflicts within the family (33%). Two-thirds of the mainly male (96%) patients (N=131) with an average age of 22 (range 13-47) years met the criteria for pathological computer gaming, characterized by an excessive number of hours and preoccupation with gaming, high distress, and unemployment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Symptoms resemble those of other addiction disorders. The consequences for disorder-specific treatment concepts and research are discussed.
authors: Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie, Universitätsmedizin Mainz, Untere Zahlbacherstr. 8, 55131 Mainz.
authors: Manfred E
authors: ME
authors: Beutel
authors: Christina
authors: C
authors: Hoch
authors: Klaus
authors: K
authors: Wölfling
authors: Kai W
authors: KW
authors: Müller
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006760:Hospitalization; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D014478:Unemployment / Q000523:psychology; D018910:Video Games / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult