Sung Yong Park1, Sun Mi Kim2, Sungwon Roh3, Min-Ah Soh4, Sang Hoon Lee5, Hyungjin Kim6, Young Sik Lee7, Doug Hyun Han8. 1. Department of Psychiatry, Chung-Ang University Medical Center, 102 Heukseok-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 156-755, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: architers@hanmail.net. 2. Department of Psychiatry, Chung-Ang University Medical Center, 102 Heukseok-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 156-755, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: sunmikim706@gmail.com. 3. Department of Psychiatry, Hanyang University College of Medicine, 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul 133-791, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: swroh@hanyang.ac.kr. 4. Department of Mental Health Research, Seoul National Hospital, Junggok 3-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 143-711, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: soho27@gmail.com. 5. Eun Hye Hospital, Simgok-dong, Seo-gu, Incheon 404-793, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: lnh409@naver.com. 6. Department of Psychology, Rice University, 6100 Main Street, Houston, TX 77005, USA. Electronic address: hk19@rice.edu. 7. Department of Psychiatry, Chung-Ang University Medical Center, 102 Heukseok-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 156-755, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: hawkeyelys@hanmail.net. 8. Department of Psychiatry, Chung-Ang University Medical Center, 102 Heukseok-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 156-755, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: hduk@yahoo.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Neuroimaging studies have demonstrated dysfunction in the brain reward circuit in individuals with online gaming addiction (OGA). We hypothesized that virtual reality therapy (VRT) for OGA would improve the functional connectivity (FC) of the cortico-striatal-limbic circuit by stimulating the limbic system. METHODS:Twenty-four adults with OGA were randomly assigned to a cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) group or VRT group. Before and after the four-week treatment period, the severity of OGA was evaluated with Young's Internet Addiction Scale (YIAS). Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) and FC from the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) seed to other brain areas were evaluated. Twelve casual game users were also recruited and underwent only baseline assessment. RESULTS: After treatment, both CBT and VRT groups showed reductions in YIAS scores. At baseline, the OGA group showed a smaller ALFF within the right middle frontal gyrus and reduced FC in the cortico-striatal-limbic circuit. In the VRT group, connectivity from the PCC seed to the left middle frontal and bilateral temporal lobe increased after VRT. CONCLUSION:VRT seemed to reduce the severity of OGA, showing effects similar to CBT, and enhanced the balance of the cortico-striatal-limbic circuit.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Neuroimaging studies have demonstrated dysfunction in the brain reward circuit in individuals with online gaming addiction (OGA). We hypothesized that virtual reality therapy (VRT) for OGA would improve the functional connectivity (FC) of the cortico-striatal-limbic circuit by stimulating the limbic system. METHODS: Twenty-four adults with OGA were randomly assigned to a cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) group or VRT group. Before and after the four-week treatment period, the severity of OGA was evaluated with Young's Internet Addiction Scale (YIAS). Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) and FC from the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) seed to other brain areas were evaluated. Twelve casual game users were also recruited and underwent only baseline assessment. RESULTS: After treatment, both CBT and VRT groups showed reductions in YIAS scores. At baseline, the OGA group showed a smaller ALFF within the right middle frontal gyrus and reduced FC in the cortico-striatal-limbic circuit. In the VRT group, connectivity from the PCC seed to the left middle frontal and bilateral temporal lobe increased after VRT. CONCLUSION: VRT seemed to reduce the severity of OGA, showing effects similar to CBT, and enhanced the balance of the cortico-striatal-limbic circuit.
Authors: Vega González-Bueso; Juan J Santamaría; Daniel Fernández; Laura Merino; Elena Montero; Susana Jiménez-Murcia; Amparo Del Pino-Gutiérrez; Joan Ribas Journal: Front Psychol Date: 2018-05-28