Functional Brain Changes in Response to Treatment of Internet Gaming Disorder

Abstract

This chapter consists of three parts. First, we suggest the possible therapeutic mechanisms of dopaminergic and serotonergic medications for Internet gaming disorder (IGD) through an overview of the results of pharmacological trials. Second, we review the functional brain changes, especially in terms of cortico-striatal circuitry, in response to pharmacological treatments in individuals with IGD. Finally, we discuss the functional brain changes observed in response to non-pharmacological interventions, including family therapy and abstinence from online gaming. Although the studies discussed in this chapter suggest that a partial recovery of dysfunctional brain activity may be possible, the existence of a causal relationship between brain functional abnormalities and IGD is still open to debate. Functional neuroimaging studies with novel and efficient designs are needed for the development of more effective treatments for IGD as well as for increasing the understanding of the pathophysiology of IGD.