Neurofeedback for Internet Gaming Addiction

University of Macau

Status: Completed

Conditions: Internet Gaming Disorder

Treatments: Device: Sham feedback training; Device: Neurofeedback training

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06063642

BSERE23-APP004-ICI

Details and patient eligibility

About

The primary aim of this study is to evaluate the therapeutic potential of real-time functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) neurofeedback in alleviating internet gaming disorder (IGD) symptoms by training individuals with such symptoms to down-regulate the activity in their reward-processing-related midbrain regions.

Enrollment: 20 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 28 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Meet at least five of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders fifth edition (DSM-5) criteria for IGD and score 38 or above on the Internet Addiction Test (IAT)
• First language is Chinese (Mandarin)
• Right-handed
• Have played the mobile game "King of Glory" for more than 3 years
• Ability to give informed consent
• Normal or corrected-to-normal vision

Exclusion criteria

• Any primary diagnosis of a current psychological or neurological disorder
• Any history of psychological or neurological disorder
• Any MRI contraindication
• Currently on a psychotropic medication
• Any history of substance dependence
• Any history of brain injury or surgery

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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20 participants in 2 patient groups

Experimental neurofeedback intervention

Experimental group

Description:

In an approximately 30-minute training session, participants receive activity feedback from a midbrain region involved in reward processing and gaming addiction. Feedback will be presented in the form of a thermometer/bar in the middle of the screen and updated every two seconds. They will be trained to down-regulate the activity in this region with the help of this feedback using cognitive strategies. This down-regulation training is believed to be beneficial to addictive behaviors by the investigators.

Treatment:

Device: Neurofeedback training

Sham feedback intervention

Sham Comparator group

Description:

In an approximately 30-minute training session, participants receive activity feedback from a brain region irrelevant to reward processing or gaming addictive behavior. The feedback presentation form and task instructions will be the same as for the experimental group. Based on the functional role of the feedback region, the investigators do not believe this feedback training will change the addictive behaviors of the participants who receive this intervention.

Treatment:

Device: Sham feedback training