<p>Even as instances of children getting addicted to technology have been increasing over the years, there has been no official record of such cases studies.<br /> <br /></p>.<p>Now, for the first time in the country, the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (Nimhans) will come out with two case studies of video game addiction, paving way for more research on the developing issue.<br /><br />Cases of two teenagers from Bengaluru, who were addicted to video games, would be soon published in the Industrial Psychiatry Journal and National Medical Journal. <br /><br />Dr Manoj Kumar Sharma, Additional Professor of Clinical Psychology and Dr Santosh K Chaturvedi, Professor of Psychiatry, have compiled details of two children who were brought for consultation at the SHUT (Services for Healthy Use of Technology) clinic in Nimhans where cases of technology addiction are attended to. <br /><br />For 15-year-old Ram (name changed), the problems began thus. He was found spending 10-12 hours a day playing video games. He was also found using Twitter and Gplus games excessively. Psychiatrists at Nimhans found that he attributed the excessive use of game to feeling of well being, way of coping to boredom, academic decline and interpersonal problems and also a feeling of success. He had erratic patterns of sleep, a hampered routine, decreased interest in academics. <br /><br />As the extent of addiction grew severe, Ram gave up his regular food intake and would not bathe for several days, the doctors report. During his consultation at the SHUT clinic, he got a high score in the Internet addiction tests. <br /><br />The doctors said the routine turns into a vicious cycle, forcing one to procrastinate all the daily chores. “Usually, teenagers have a habit of postponing work. With addiction, they will also tend to postpone important responsibility. At the end of the day, since they keep playing games or be hooked on to the internet, all the work gets piled up. In turn, to relieve themselves off this stress, they will look to technology again. It is a vicious cycle,” he explained. <br /><br />De-addiction involves several sessions of counselling. “We will begin by counselling. An everyday plan would be designed. Gradually, we will rope in the family to give them positive reinforcements when they make efforts to avoid the addiction. Gradually, they would reach a phase where we can have ‘controlled’ use,” he added. <br /><br />Case<br />In the other case, a 17-year-old-boy was found to spend 10-14 hours in front of the computer. A topper in class eight, he had stopped going to school. Further, his social interactions turned minimal and he had aggressive behaviour, according to the case study. “There were several instances when he beat his mother. Due to excessive online activities, he developed neck pain, fatigue and eye strain. Despite these problems, he used to prefer playing online games,” reported doctors. <br /></p>
<p>Even as instances of children getting addicted to technology have been increasing over the years, there has been no official record of such cases studies.<br /> <br /></p>.<p>Now, for the first time in the country, the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (Nimhans) will come out with two case studies of video game addiction, paving way for more research on the developing issue.<br /><br />Cases of two teenagers from Bengaluru, who were addicted to video games, would be soon published in the Industrial Psychiatry Journal and National Medical Journal. <br /><br />Dr Manoj Kumar Sharma, Additional Professor of Clinical Psychology and Dr Santosh K Chaturvedi, Professor of Psychiatry, have compiled details of two children who were brought for consultation at the SHUT (Services for Healthy Use of Technology) clinic in Nimhans where cases of technology addiction are attended to. <br /><br />For 15-year-old Ram (name changed), the problems began thus. He was found spending 10-12 hours a day playing video games. He was also found using Twitter and Gplus games excessively. Psychiatrists at Nimhans found that he attributed the excessive use of game to feeling of well being, way of coping to boredom, academic decline and interpersonal problems and also a feeling of success. He had erratic patterns of sleep, a hampered routine, decreased interest in academics. <br /><br />As the extent of addiction grew severe, Ram gave up his regular food intake and would not bathe for several days, the doctors report. During his consultation at the SHUT clinic, he got a high score in the Internet addiction tests. <br /><br />The doctors said the routine turns into a vicious cycle, forcing one to procrastinate all the daily chores. “Usually, teenagers have a habit of postponing work. With addiction, they will also tend to postpone important responsibility. At the end of the day, since they keep playing games or be hooked on to the internet, all the work gets piled up. In turn, to relieve themselves off this stress, they will look to technology again. It is a vicious cycle,” he explained. <br /><br />De-addiction involves several sessions of counselling. “We will begin by counselling. An everyday plan would be designed. Gradually, we will rope in the family to give them positive reinforcements when they make efforts to avoid the addiction. Gradually, they would reach a phase where we can have ‘controlled’ use,” he added. <br /><br />Case<br />In the other case, a 17-year-old-boy was found to spend 10-14 hours in front of the computer. A topper in class eight, he had stopped going to school. Further, his social interactions turned minimal and he had aggressive behaviour, according to the case study. “There were several instances when he beat his mother. Due to excessive online activities, he developed neck pain, fatigue and eye strain. Despite these problems, he used to prefer playing online games,” reported doctors. <br /></p>
