Table 1.
Internet Addiction Test item correspondence with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition, gaming and gambling disorders criteria.
| Internet gaming disorder: proposed DSM-5 criteria | Gambling disorder: DSM-5 criteria |
| Preoccupation with Internet games (11, 15)a | Preoccupation with gambling (11, 15) |
| Withdrawal symptoms when Internet gaming is taken away (20) | Withdrawal (restless or irritable when attempt to cut down or stop gambling) (20) |
| Tolerance (the need to spend increasing amounts of time engaged in Internet games)b | Tolerance (needs to gamble with an increasing amount of money)b |
| Unsuccessful attempts to reduce or stop Internet game participation (1, 16, 17) | Unsuccessful attempts to reduce or stop gambling (1, 16, 17) |
| Loss of interest in other activities (3, 7, 19) | N/Ac |
| Continues excessive use of Internet games despite problems (2, 6, 8, 14) | N/A |
| Deceives others regarding the amount of Internet gaming (5, 9, 13, 18) | Lies to conceal the importance of gambling involvement (9, 18) |
| Use of Internet games to escape from adverse moods (10) | Escape (often gambles when feeling distressed) (10) |
| Has jeopardized or lost relationships or opportunities due to excessive Internet gaming (8) | Has jeopardized or lost relationships or opportunities due to excessive gambling (8) |
| N/A | Relies on others to provide money to relieve the financial situations caused by gamblingb |
| N/A | After losing money gambling, often returns to get even (“chasing” one’s losses)b |
| Number of criteria: 5 or more | Number of criteria: 4 or more |
| Time criteria: 12 months or more | Time criteria: 12 months or more |
| Exclusion criteria: Internet use not related to online games is not “analogous to Internet gaming disorder” | Exclusion criteria: The behavior is better explained by a manic episode |
aThe suggested IAT items from Textbox 1 for each criteria are shown in parentheses.
bNot associated with an IAT item.
cNot applicable (N/A).