South Koreans using drug treatment for Starcraft cravings.

[Goth]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2...?dopt=Abstract

Only in Seoul.

Bupropion has been shown to be effective in reducing cravings for Starcraft.

The FMRI brain activity imaging in response to cues of Starcraft gameplay, and how it's different between normal gamers and > 30 h/week uber pro gamers sounds really interesting.

Bupropion has been used in the treatment of patients with substance dependence based on its weak inhibition of dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake. We hypothesized that 6 weeks of bupropion sustained release (SR) treatment would decrease craving for Internet game play as well as video game cue-induced brain activity in patients with Internet video game addiction (IAG). Eleven subjects who met criteria for IAG, playing StarCraft (>30 hr/week), and eight healthy comparison subjects (HC) who had experience playing StarCraft (<3 days/week and <1 hr/day). At baseline and at the end of 6 weeks of bupropion SR treatment, brain activity in response to StarCraft cue presentation was assessed using 1.5 Tesla functional MRI. In addition, symptoms of depression, craving for playing the game, and the severity of Internet addiction were evaluated by Beck Depression Inventory, self-report of craving on a 7-point visual analogue scale, and Young's Internet Addiction Scale, respectively. In response to game cues, IAG showed higher brain activation in left occipital lobe cuneus, left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, and left parahippocampal gyrus than HC. After a 6 week period of bupropion SR, craving for Internet video game play, total game play time, and cue-induced brain activity in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex were decreased in the IAG. We suggest that bupropion SR may change craving and brain activity in ways that are similar to those observed in individuals with substance abuse or dependence. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved).

[Foliage]

Interesting, wonder if other non drug addictions can be managed similarly, eg addiction to fat and sugar filled foods etc.

[chip]

^^^ I understand that, at least in the case of certain fats, they're less behavioural addictions and actual physiological addictions.

[Foliage]

Originally Posted by chip

^^^ I understand that, at least in the case of certain fats, they're less behavioural addictions and actual physiological addictions.

They are implying they can be treated the same though by this article yes?

Basically whether it is heroin or starcraft, they work on the reward centre of your brain.

[HUMMER]

why do i get this image of you know how heroin addicts will do anything to get their fix including but not restricted to sex acts. i get this image of a starcraft doing the same. is that wrong?

as for the drug. wonder if this will be done through proper trials to see the effectiveness of said drugs for other cravings.

[Foliage]

Originally Posted by HUMMER

as for the drug. wonder if this will be done through proper trials to see the effectiveness of said drugs for other cravings.

It already is used for treatment of other addictions such as smoking and also used as an anti-depressant.

[chip]

Originally Posted by Foliage

They are implying they can be treated the same though by this article yes?

Basically whether it is heroin or starcraft, they work on the reward centre of your brain.

Yeah, I believe the difference is that withdrawal from something addictive like heroin has serious physiological side effects, whereas people with behvioural addictions (e.g. poker machines) can have a 'road to damascus' type moment and just walk away.

(Most of what I've learned about behavioural addictions has been talking in the bar with academics.)

[Hamulus]

Originally Posted by HUMMER

why do i get this image of you know how heroin addicts will do anything to get their fix including but not restricted to sex acts. i get this image of a starcraft doing the same. is that wrong?

as for the drug. wonder if this will be done through proper trials to see the effectiveness of said drugs for other cravings.

People addicted to Starcraft don't get laid! What are you thinking!

On a more serious note, it has been said for a long time that computer game addiction will be listed as a mental illness in the upcoming DSM5. Seems DSM5 will never come out though. Surely it is way overdue by now? Not surprising though that psychiatric treatment of this illness would start to explore treatment by various medications.

[Sorak]

the new wonder drug is called 'Vitamin D' known around the world as 'get the fuck outside and play with your friends'

[Danthemanz]

Originally Posted by Sorak

the new wonder drug is called 'Vitamin D' known around the world as 'get the fuck outside and play with your friends'

Although healthy, its hardly going to be something someone with a psychological addiction to going to think about.

Others, please stop comparing it to Opiates, a psychological addiction is nothing like physical dependence...

This does totally make sense, im sure SSRI's in the mix would probably have a positive effect as well.

[Brett]

Would it work if you're addicted to anti-addiction medications?

[Foliage]

Whilst there is very serious physical dependence with opiates there is still psychological addiction, people treated with opiates for heroin addiction still relapse even though their physical symptoms are masked, reason being is the reward pathways in their brain want the feeling much like how the reward pathways in someone addicted to an activity are triggered when they do it.

You are right it is not the same thing but I think they can be compared in certain aspects.

Originally Posted by Brett

Would it work if you're addicted to anti-addiction medications?

The funny thing is this does happen with various meds quite often, when that happens all you've got at your disposal is a taper and seeing a psychologist.