Gaming is the application of skills by the use of a computer where one demonstrates the ability to interact with an environment. A computer game or video game is an interactive electronic game that entails interaction with an external user interface or input apparatus including a mouse, joystick, game pad, keyboard, or finger tracking device, to produce visual output on a display device such as a screen, monitor, television, or a head-mounted display (HMD). Computer games are designed to provide challenges and entertainment for users. Video game consoles are designed to allow interactive experiences in a media format defined by a specification language called CD-ROM which allows the user to load the game software on a personal computer and play the game.
Recent studies have shown a relationship between excessive gaming and disorders such as depression, substance abuse, anxiety, OCD, and psychosis. Past research has also shown a link between excessive gaming and disorders such as ADD and ADHD. This article focuses on a new area of research called “interference” where it was found that patients who suffer from dementia, schizophrenia, and autism often suffer excessive or prolonged gaming due to the presence of these mental health problems. The authors believe that gaming is akin to an addiction process and considers the resulting symptom as pathological gaming.
The symptoms presented by people suffering from this new area of study are very similar to those of other gaming disorders. These include excessively long periods of time spent playing a single type of game, problematic relationships with friends and family, loss of sleep and/or concentration, and poor concentration and/or motor skills while playing. Other common characteristics of this disorder include feelings of guilt, sadness, guilt, and loss of control. This article is a tentative introduction of this new field of study called “interference”. We intend to continue our series of articles covering this important topic.