Case series: gaming vs. eating-comorbidity of ARFID and IGD.

ABSTRACT

This case series includes innovative information regarding the relationship between Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder and the recently formulated diagnosis of Internet Gaming Disorder. The series illustrates two clinical cases in which both disorders were simultaneously recognized during diagnosis and treatment. Both disorders were utilized by patients as maladaptive coping strategies in efforts to avoid emotional distress and are potential risk factors that interfere with physical and mental health functioning. This case series highlights the unique relationship between these disorders and the compounding contribution of these two risk factors to poor physical and mental health outcomes, which is a unique contribution to the eating disorder literature. Level IV Evidence obtained from multiple time series with or without the intervention, such as case studies.