Mental Imagery Tasks to Reduce Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) Cravings

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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To test whether visual and auditory imagery tasks can effectively reduce the craving for IGD.

Detailed Description
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This project is to use imagery tasks to reduce the craving of internet gamers. To test whether visual and auditory imagery tasks can effectively reduce the craving for IGD. This project will be conducted in Beijing, China, based on a large sample of internet gamers.

Official Title
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Mental Imagery Tasks to Reduce IGD Cravings: Visual Imagery and Auditory Imagery

Conditions
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Internet Gaming Disorder

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Imagery tasks


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: The scores of the 9 items of The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition(DSM-5) recommended diagnosis for Internet gaming disorder ≥ 5. Engagement in popular Internet games (e.g. Arena of Valor, League of Legends and Player Unknown's Battle Grounds) for over 20 hours per week for a minimum of 12 months. The scores of the Young-Internet Addiction Test(Y-IAT) ≥ 50 Exclusion Criteria: Current or history of use of illegal substances and gambling; Current or history of psychiatric or neurological illness; Current use of psychotropic medications.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 30 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Basic Science
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Double


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Visual imagery tasks group<br>During the intervention, each participant of this group will be asked to create visual mental images. | Behavioral: Imagery tasks<br>* All participants need to finish both visual imagery tasks and auditory imagery tasks. Visual imagery tasks and auditory imagery tasks will be carried out at intervals to avoid the influence of different tasks. The sequence of imagery tasks will be counterbalanced across participants.<br>|
| Experimental: Auditory imagery tasks group<br>During the intervention, each participant of this group will be asked to create auditory mental images. | Behavioral: Imagery tasks<br>* All participants need to finish both visual imagery tasks and auditory imagery tasks. Visual imagery tasks and auditory imagery tasks will be carried out at intervals to avoid the influence of different tasks. The sequence of imagery tasks will be counterbalanced across participants.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| The craving of internet gamers | The craving of internet gamers is measured by a single item Visual Analogue Scale with 1 to 7 likert score | 0-1 minutes before each set of cue | 
| The craving of internet gamers after cue | The craving of internet gamers is measured by a single item Visual Analogue Scale with 1 to 7 likert scoreScale with 1 to 7 likert score | 0-1 minutes after showing cue | 
| The craving of internet gamers | The craving of internet gamers is measured by a single item Visual Analogue Scale with 1 to 7 likert score | 0-1 minutes after finishing each block of tasks |