5 - Screening and assessment of IGD

Abstract

This chapter will summarize some of the important conceptual and practical considerations in screening and assessment of Internet gaming disorder (IGD). While IGD is a provisionally classified disorder (i.e., not yet a formal diagnosis), there still exists a practical need for clinicians to manage referrals for problematic gaming and suspected IGD. This chapter summarizes some of the current classification approaches to IGD, including full copies of the 9-item and 27-item Internet Gaming Disorder Scale (Lemmens, Valkenburg, & Gentile, 2015), which are valid and reliable tests of IGD. This chapter includes practical advice to avoid pathologizing normal gaming behavior. We provide detailed explanations of assessment areas with example questions, including the assessment of gaming frequency, motives, beliefs, and social context of gaming. This discussion includes explanations of the ways in which an assessment of gaming might differ from other addictions, including gambling disorder. Some other recommended screening tools are provided, with explanations of how these measures might help to understand the client and develop a case formulation as a foundation for treatment.