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Is video gaming addictive?
Concern is spreading among parents and mental-health professionals that the exploding popularity of computer and video games has a deeper dark side than simple couch-potato hood. When a child spends too much time on the PC playing video games the telltale signs are ominous: teens holing up in their rooms, ignoring friends, family, even food and a shower, while grades plummet and belligerence soars. Video game makers scoff at the notion that their products can cause a psychiatric disorder. Even some mental health experts say labeling the habit a formal addiction is going too far.But, according to a Media Research Lab at a local State University, about 8.5 percent of 8-to-18-year-old gamers can be considered pathologically addicted, and nearly one quarter of young people?more males than females?admit they've felt addicted. Up to 90 percent of American youngsters play video games and as many as 15 percent of them ? more than 5 million kids ? may be addicted, according to data cited in the AMA (American Medical Association) council?s report.Ask any preteen or teen how they love to spend their spare time, and chances are you'll get an earful about video games. According to some studies it would appear that the excitement of video games causes the brain to release a chemical that is, in essence, addictive. While wanting to improve their game isn't a problem in itself, it becomes one if video games are taking a youngster away too much from other activities in the youngster?s