The Clinical Utility of the Chen Internet Addiction Scale-Gaming Version, for Internet Gaming Disorder in the DSM-5 among Young Adults.

Ju-Yu Yen,Sue-Huei Chen,Chih-Hung Wang,Chih-Hung Ko,Wen-Xiang Tsai

doi:10.3390/ijerph16214141

Abstract

Objectives: The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) includes the diagnostic criteria for Internet gaming disorder (IGD). This study evaluated (1) the screening, diagnostic, and prevalence-estimated cutoff points of the Chen Internet Addiction Scale–Gaming Version (CIAS-G) for IGD in the DSM-5; and (2) the differences in the CIAS-G and subscale scores among individuals with IGD, regular gamers (RGs), and other control subjects. Methods: We recruited 69 participants with IGD, 69 RGs, and 69 healthy participants based on diagnostic interviews conducted by a psychiatrist according to DSM-5 IGD criteria. All participants completed the CIAS-G and were assessed using the clinical global impression scale. Results: The optimal screening and diagnostic cutoff points were 68 or more (sensitivity, 97.1%; specificity, 76.8%) and 72 or more (sensitivity, 85.5%; specificity, 87.0%) for IGD based on DSM-5 criteria, respectively. The 76 or more cutoff point had the highest number needed to misdiagnose and was the optimal prevalence estimated cutoff point. Conclusions: The screening cutoff point could be used to identify individuals with IGD for further diagnostic interviewing to confirm the diagnosis in the clinical setting or for two-stage epidemiological evaluation. The diagnostic cutoff point provides a provisional diagnosis of IGD when diagnostic interviewing is unavailable. The prevalence-estimated cutoff point could be used to estimate the prevalence of IGD in large-scale epidemiological investigations when further diagnostic interviewing is impractical. The clinical and epidemiological utility of CIAS-G warrants further study.

Highlights

Internet gaming disorder (IGD) was included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of MentalDisorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) because of its public health importance
A total of 69 participants were classified into the IGD group
These results demonstrated that the IGD group had higher scores than the regular gamers (RGs) group, and that the RG group had higher scores than control subjects

Summary

Introduction

Internet gaming disorder (IGD) was included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental. Fifth Edition (DSM-5) because of its public health importance. Based on clinical evidence and in the interests of public health [4], gaming disorder (GD) was recently included in the International Classification of Diseases, Eleventh Revision (ICD-11) [5]. Many researchers have cautioned against including IGD in the DSM-5 or GD in the ICD-11 because of inadequate scientific evidence [6]. Further research on IGD and GD and their public impacts are necessary to resolve these concerns. A well-designed epidemiological study with a randomized sample derived from a community population can provide favorable insights into the public importance of a psychiatric disorder [7]

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