Gaming Disorder: Care Staff Guide to Spotting and Supporting

Gaming is a normal and enjoyable part of life for millions of people, and most players never have a problem. For a small number, however, gaming takes over: they lose control over how much they play, and the effects spill into school, work, health and family life. The NHS now runs a dedicated service for people with gaming disorders. This guide, based on NHS England information, explains the warning signs, how the NHS treats gaming disorder and how care and support staff, as well as parents and carers, can respond with understanding. It links to our guides on ADHD in adults, generalised anxiety and panic disorder and safeguarding children.

What is gaming disorder?

NHS England describes gaming disorder as struggling to control how often a person plays video games. In severe cases, play can reach 14 or more hours a day, and it can lead to violence, avoiding school or work, family breakdown and withdrawal from society. The key feature is not how many hours someone plays in itself, but loss of control and harm to the rest of their life.

Gaming disorder is an area where language matters. A person who plays a lot but is coping well, working, sleeping, seeing friends and eating properly does not necessarily have a disorder. The concern arises when gaming is out of control and causing significant harm.

Warning signs

The warning signs highlighted by NHS England include:

• losing control over how long someone plays
• increased aggression while playing
• skipping school or work
• strained family relationships
• pulling away from social life

Other signs that staff and carers may notice include disrupted sleep, poor eating or hygiene, falling behind with education or work, and strong distress or anger when asked to stop. These extra signs are practical observations and are not from the NHS source, so they should be treated as prompts to talk to the person, not as proof of a disorder.

Why people may be vulnerable

Gaming can become a way of coping with other difficulties, such as anxiety, low mood, loneliness, bullying, stress or conditions like ADHD and autism. For this reason it is worth looking at what else is going on in a person's life. If gaming seems to be an escape from distress, the underlying cause needs support as well as the gaming itself. Our guide on generalised anxiety and panic disorder may help staff recognise anxiety that sits behind avoidance.

How the NHS treats gaming disorder

NHS England says the National Centre for Gaming Disorders in London is the only gaming clinic of its kind in the UK. It treats people aged 13 and over, and their family members, mostly online so that it can reach people across England. Options include family consultations, individual or group therapy, parent workshops, support groups and family therapy. People can be referred by their local NHS service or can refer themselves online.

According to NHS England, treatment lasts on average about three months, or around 12 sessions, though this ranges from a single session to more than a year. The clinic had received 745 referrals since it opened in October 2019, and the average age of patients was 17. NHS England also reported that the number of gamers treated rose by more than half between 2021 and 2022, and that the number of family members treated rose by 46 per cent over the same period. The source does not state its publication date, so these figures should be read as a snapshot.

Advice for parents, carers and staff

NHS England emphasises that early identification and treatment give better outcomes. Its advice for parents and carers is to:

• recognise the warning signs and monitor online activity if worried
• contact a GP, or self-refer to NHS talking therapies
• call a local crisis helpline at any time of the day or night if needed
• join parent workshops or support groups for strategies and peer support

Practical support for care staff

• Start with curiosity, not confrontation. Ask what the person enjoys about gaming and how it affects their day.
• Keep routines. Regular meals, sleep, fresh air and social contact help to balance screen time.
• Agree limits together. Boundaries work better when the person helps to set them.
• Do not remove devices suddenly without a plan. This can cause severe distress and aggression. If safety is at risk, get advice from a clinician.
• Look after online safety. Gaming platforms involve chat, spending and contact with strangers. If a child or vulnerable adult may be at risk, follow your safeguarding procedures.
• Watch for spending. In-game purchases can lead to debt, so check that the person is not at financial risk.

When to get help

Encourage the person to speak to their GP or to self-refer to NHS talking therapies, and use the national centre referral route where appropriate. If a person talks about harming themselves, becomes violent or is in crisis, follow your organisation's risk procedures, call NHS 111 or, in an emergency, call 999.

Frequently asked questions

How many hours of gaming is too many?

There is no fixed number. The concern is loss of control and harm to daily life, such as missing school or work, strained relationships and withdrawal.

Can adults be affected?

Yes. The national centre treats people from the age of 13, and the average age of its patients was 17, but gaming problems can affect adults too.

Is treatment only for the gamer?

No. NHS England says the service also treats family members and offers parent workshops and support groups.

Where can staff build their knowledge?

The health and social care learning available through Learnsignal CPD can help you recognise and respond to behavioural addictions.

This article is general information for care staff, based on NHS England information, and does not replace the advice of a person's own clinicians. If you are worried about someone's health right now, contact their GP, NHS 111 or, in an emergency, call 999.