Halley Pontes
Nottingham Trent University, United Kingdom
Title: Technological addictions in light of the DSM-5: A psychometric approach
Biography
Biography: Halley Pontes
Abstract
The American Psychiatric Association has published in the latest (fifth) edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) nine potentially useful clinical criteria defining Internet Gaming Disorder. In this context, Internet Gaming Disorder was included in the Section 3 of the DSM-5 as a tentative disorder warranting more research prior definite inclusion in subsequent editions of the DSM. Since then, a few psychometric tools attempting to assess the concepts of gaming addiction and generalized Internet addiction have emerged. In light of this, the aim of the present study is twofold. Firstly, to provide a quick overview on the state of the art regarding the operationalization of the Internet Gaming Disorder criteria to assess both gaming addiction and generalized Internet addiction by conducting a brief literature review on this topic. Secondly, to present the Internet Gaming Disorder Test (IGD-20 Test), Internet Gaming Disorder Scale – Short-Form (IGDS9-SF), and the Internet Disorder Scale (IDS-15) which are three newly developed psychometric tools to assess the constructs of gaming addiction and generalized Internet addiction. It is envisaged by the present authors that the results and discussions generated by the presentation of this study will add to the ongoing debates in the field and also provide critical information on the state of the art of two commonly researched behavioral addictions.