In 1990, Isaac Marks introduced the construct of “non-chemical addictions”. In the intervening decades, the addiction research field endorsed the term behavioral addictions or addictive behaviours and a body of research has accumulated on the concept. A major step forward for the field in terms of formally recognizing addictive behaviours came in 2015 when gambling disorder was reclassified from the “Impulse Control Disorders Not Elsewhere Classified” category into the new “Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders” category in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5; APA, 2013). Further, “internet gaming disorder” was included as a condition requiring further research in the appendix of DSM-5. More recently, in 2019, gaming disorder was included in the eleventh revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11; WHO, 2019) for the first time, and both gaming disorder and gambling disorder were classified in the “Disorders due to addictive behaviours” category. Research to date has identified a variety of complex neurobiological and psychosocial factors implicated in the development and maintenance of gaming disorder and gambling disorder. However, many questions remain about etiology.
The main goal of this Research Topic is to compile and disseminate the latest evidence on pathological mechanisms of gaming disorder and gambling disorder. We aim to better characterize the implications of correlates, to obtain new insights of pathological pathways and to elicit more comprehensive theories, which can deepen our understanding of the etiology of gaming disorder and gambling disorder.
We welcome original research articles, literature reviews and case reports which address the following themes related to gaming disorder and gambling disorder:
- Studies identifying new correlates of gaming disorder or gambling disorder using sound, novel, advanced methodologies.
- Studies investigating complex interactions among potential influencing factors of the disorders, including emerging trends such as e-sports and gambling-gaming convergence.
- Studies exploring the underlying mechanisms of co-existence of gaming disorder, gambling disorder and other disorders.
- Studies describing social or cross-cultural factors/pathways which significantly contribute to the development or maintenance of gaming disorder or gambling disorder.
- Studies describing more comprehensive, inclusive theories which can potentially open new avenues for future research on gaming disorder and gambling disorder.
- Studies describing novel technologies or methodologies which may potentially lead to a breakthrough in etiological research on gaming disorder and gambling disorder.
- Other studies which can significantly contribute to a deeper understanding of the nature of addictive behaviours and the etiology of gaming disorder and gambling disorder.
In 1990, Isaac Marks introduced the construct of “non-chemical addictions”. In the intervening decades, the addiction research field endorsed the term behavioral addictions or addictive behaviours and a body of research has accumulated on the concept. A major step forward for the field in terms of formally recognizing addictive behaviours came in 2015 when gambling disorder was reclassified from the “Impulse Control Disorders Not Elsewhere Classified” category into the new “Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders” category in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5; APA, 2013). Further, “internet gaming disorder” was included as a condition requiring further research in the appendix of DSM-5. More recently, in 2019, gaming disorder was included in the eleventh revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11; WHO, 2019) for the first time, and both gaming disorder and gambling disorder were classified in the “Disorders due to addictive behaviours” category. Research to date has identified a variety of complex neurobiological and psychosocial factors implicated in the development and maintenance of gaming disorder and gambling disorder. However, many questions remain about etiology.
The main goal of this Research Topic is to compile and disseminate the latest evidence on pathological mechanisms of gaming disorder and gambling disorder. We aim to better characterize the implications of correlates, to obtain new insights of pathological pathways and to elicit more comprehensive theories, which can deepen our understanding of the etiology of gaming disorder and gambling disorder.
We welcome original research articles, literature reviews and case reports which address the following themes related to gaming disorder and gambling disorder:
- Studies identifying new correlates of gaming disorder or gambling disorder using sound, novel, advanced methodologies.
- Studies investigating complex interactions among potential influencing factors of the disorders, including emerging trends such as e-sports and gambling-gaming convergence.
- Studies exploring the underlying mechanisms of co-existence of gaming disorder, gambling disorder and other disorders.
- Studies describing social or cross-cultural factors/pathways which significantly contribute to the development or maintenance of gaming disorder or gambling disorder.
- Studies describing more comprehensive, inclusive theories which can potentially open new avenues for future research on gaming disorder and gambling disorder.
- Studies describing novel technologies or methodologies which may potentially lead to a breakthrough in etiological research on gaming disorder and gambling disorder.
- Other studies which can significantly contribute to a deeper understanding of the nature of addictive behaviours and the etiology of gaming disorder and gambling disorder.