Perspectives on contingency management for alcohol use and alcohol-associated conditions among people in care with HIV.

BACKGROUND: Contingency management (CM) is an evidence-based approach for reducing alcohol use; however, its implementation into routine HIV primary care-based settings has been limited. We evaluated perspectives on implementing CM to address unhealthy alcohol use and associated conditions for people with HIV in primary care settings. METHODS: From May 2021 to August 2021, we conducted two focus groups with staff involved in delivering the intervention (n = 5 Social Workers and n = 4 Research Coordinators) and individual interviews (n = 13) with a subset of participants involved in the multi-site Financial Incentives, Randomization, and Stepped Treatment (FIRST) trial. Qualitative data collection and analyses were informed by the Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Service (PARIHS) implementation science framework, including evidence (perception of CM), context (HIV primary care clinic and CM procedures), and facilitation (feasibility outside the research setting). RESULTS: Several major themes were identified. Regarding the evidence, participants lacked prior experience with CM, but the intervention was well received and, by some, perceived to lead to lasting behavior change. Regarding the clinical context for the reward schedule, the use of biochemical testing, specifically fingerstick phosphatidylethanol testing, and the reward process were perceived to be engaging and gratifying for both staff and patients. Participants indicated that the intervention was enhanced by its co-location within the HIV clinic. Regarding facilitation, participants suggested addressing the intervention's feasibility for non-research use, simplifying the reward structure, and rewarding non-abstinence in alcohol use. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients and staff involved in a clinical trial, CM was viewed as a helpful, positive, and feasible approach to addressing unhealthy alcohol use and related conditions. To enhance implementation, future efforts may consider simplified approaches to the reward structure and expanding rewards to non-abstinent reductions in alcohol consumption.

A Pilot Study of Youth With Type 1 Diabetes Initiating Use of a Hybrid Closed-Loop System While Receiving a Behavioral Economics Intervention.

OBJECTIVE: Many youth do not use the hybrid closed-loop system for type 1 diabetes effectively. This study evaluated the impact of financial incentives for diabetes-related tasks on use of the 670G hybrid closed-loop system and on glycemia. METHODS: At auto mode initiation and for 16 weeks thereafter, participants received a flat rate for wearing and calibrating the sensor ($1/day), administering at least 3 mealtime insulin boluses per day ($1/day), and uploading ($5/week). Weekly bonuses were given for maintaining at least 70% of the time in auto mode, which were increased for persistent auto mode use from $3/week to a maximum of $13/week. If a participant failed to maintain auto mode for a week, the rewards were reset to baseline. Data from 17 participants aged 15.9 years ± 2.5 years (baseline hemoglobin A1c [HbA1c] 8.6% ± 1.1%) were collected at 6, 12, and 16 weeks. The reinforcers were withdrawn at 16 weeks, with a follow-up assessment at 24 weeks. RESULTS: With reinforcers, the participants administered an average of at least 3 mealtime insulin boluses per day and wore the sensor over 70% of the time. However, auto mode use waned. HbA1c levels decreased by 0.5% after 6 weeks, and this improvement was maintained at 12 and 16 weeks (P < .05). Upon withdrawal of reinforcers, HbA1c levels increased back to baseline at 24 weeks. CONCLUSION: Compensation for diabetes-related tasks was associated with lower HbA1c levels, consistent administration of mealtime insulin boluses, and sustained sensor use. These results support the potential of financial rewards for improving outcomes in youth with type 1 diabetes.

Randomized clinical trial of exercise for nontreatment seeking adults with alcohol use disorder.

The vast majority of individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD) do not seek professional help despite its significant consequences upon the individual and society. Current interventions for nontreatment seeking individuals with AUD (e.g., screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment [SBIRT]) have limited efficacy and alternative nonstigmatizing approaches are needed. This randomized clinical trial examined the utility of exercise as an intervention for sedentary nontreatment seeking adults with AUD. Participants (N = 66) were randomized to receive (a) a 4-month YMCA gym membership only (MO) or (b) a 4-month YMCA gym membership plus a 16-week integrated motivational intervention for exercise consisting of motivational interviewing and contingency management (MI + CM). Participants in both study conditions significantly increased their exercise behavior compared to baseline, and the MI + CM participants exercised significantly more often and an overall larger volume of exercise than the MO participants (ds > 2.0). Significant reductions in drinking and alcohol-related consequences were noted over time but did not differ significantly by study condition and were not related to changes in exercise. Future interventions using exercise as an intervention for AUD may want to frame this type of intervention as "wellness," directly link the 2 behaviors, and compare this intervention to SBIRT. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Individualized assessment and treatment program (IATP) for cannabis use disorder: Randomized controlled trial with and without contingency management.

This study tested a new approach to the treatment of cannabis use disorder (CUD). CUD is difficult to treat, and achieving abstinence is particularly difficult. The individualized assessment and treatment program (IATP) was intended to address this problem by providing a highly individualized approach to the training of coping skills most relevant for each individual. To do this, an experience sampling procedure was used prior to treatment to record patients' marijuana use behavior and associated thoughts, feelings, coping behaviors, and situations. This information was used by therapists to plan treatment that would address the specific strengths and weaknesses of each patient in drug-use situations. The present study tested IATP against a conventional combined motivational enhancement cognitive-behavioral treatment (MET-CBT), with or without the addition of contingency management (CM) for abstinence. The patients were 198 men and women randomly assigned to 1 of 4 nine-session treatment conditions: MET-CBT, MET-CBT-CM, IATP, or IATP-CM. Patients were assessed out to 14 months. Planned contrasts indicated that the IATP conditions yielded greater levels of abstinence than did the MET-CBT conditions. The addition of CM did not bolster the performance of IATP but did do so for MET-CBT. As expected, IATP lead to greater use of coping skills than did the MET-CBT conditions. However, coping skills use was not a significant predictor of outcome when other variables were in the same analyses. Self-efficacy was a robust predictor and mediator of outcome. We suggest that the IATP may act by enhancing self-efficacy. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Referral to Treatment After Positive Screens for Unhealthy Drug Use in an Outpatient Veterans Administration Setting.

OBJECTIVES: To measure the rates and predictors of clinician recommendation for follow-up after a positive screen for unhealthy drug use, in a context of mandatory routine screening. To measure response to clinician recommendations and identification of new drug use diagnoses. METHODS: Data are from a Veterans Health Administration (VHA) medical center that introduced mandatory routine screening for unhealthy drug use in outpatient primary care and mental health settings, using a validated single question. This study analyzed VHA electronic health records data for patients who screened positive for unhealthy drug use (n = 570) and estimated logistic regression models to identify the predictors of receiving a recommendation for any follow-up and for specialty substance use disorder (SUD) treatment. Bivariate tests were used for other analyses. RESULTS: Among patients who screened positive for unhealthy drug use, 66% received no recommendation to return to primary care or another setting from the screening clinician. Further, among the 23% of patients who received a recommendation to visit specialty SUD treatment, only 25% completed the visit within 60 days. Six percent of all positive screens both received a referral to specialty SUD treatment and acted upon it. CONCLUSIONS: In the context of mandatory drug use screening using a single item, rates of clinician action and patient receipt of care appeared low. Improved follow-up will require health systems to provide more supports for clinicians and patients at each of the stages from positive screen to attending the follow-up appointment.

Glucose management for rewards: A randomized trial to improve glucose monitoring and associated self-management behaviors in adolescents with type 1 diabetes.

BACKGROUND: This randomized, controlled trial evaluated a monetary-based reinforcement intervention for increasing self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) among youth with poorly controlled type 1 diabetes. METHODS: After a 2-week baseline, 60 participants were randomized to enhanced usual care (EUC) or Reinforcers. The Reinforcers group earned monetary rewards for SMBG and associated behaviors such as uploading glucose meters. Reinforcers were withdrawn at 24 weeks. A follow-up evaluation occurred at 36 weeks. RESULTS: Participants in the reinforcers group increased the proportion of days they completed ≥4 SMBG from 14.6% at baseline to 64.4%, 47.5%, and 37.8% at 6, 12, and 24 weeks, respectively. In contrast, EUC participants declined from 22.7% at baseline to 17.5%, 10.5%, and 11.1% (Ps < .01 vs EUC at all time points). Group differences were attenuated but remained significant after withdrawal of reinforcers. Effect sizes for SMBG were very large during reinforcement and large after withdrawal of reinforcers. In the reinforcers group, mean A1c dropped from 9.5% ± 1.2% at baseline to 9.0% ± 1.3% at week 6 and 9.0% ± 1.4% at week 12. For EUC, A1c was 9.2% ± 0.2% at baseline and ranged from 9.2% ± 1.5% to 9.6% ± 1.6% throughout the study (P < .05 vs EUC). Group differences in A1c were no longer significant at weeks 24 and 36. Effect sizes for A1c were small during reinforcement and also after withdrawal of reinforcement. CONCLUSIONS: Monetary-based reinforcement of adolescents with type 1 diabetes caused durable increases in SMBG. Modification of the reinforcement structure may be needed to sustain improved metabolic control in this challenging age group.

Gambling disorder.

Gambling disorder is characterized by a persistent, recurrent pattern of gambling that is associated with substantial distress or impairment. The prevalence of gambling disorder has been estimated at 0.5% of the adult population in the United States, with comparable or slightly higher estimates in other countries. The aetiology of gambling disorder is complex, with implicated genetic and environmental factors. Neurobiological studies have implicated cortico-striato-limbic structures and circuits in the pathophysiology of this disorder. Individuals with gambling disorder often go unrecognized and untreated, including within clinical settings. Gambling disorder frequently co-occurs with other conditions, particularly other psychiatric disorders. Behavioural interventions, particularly cognitive-behavioural therapy but also motivational interviewing and Gamblers Anonymous, are supported in the treatment of gambling disorder. No pharmacological therapy has a formal indication for the treatment of gambling disorder, although placebo-controlled trials suggest that some medications, such as opioid-receptor antagonists, may be helpful. Given the associations with poor quality of life and suicide, improved identification, prevention, policy and treatment efforts are needed to help people with gambling disorder.

Objective continuous monitoring of alcohol consumption for three months among alcohol use disorder treatment outpatients.

BACKGROUND: Transdermal alcohol sensing technology allows for objective continuous monitoring of alcohol use. The purpose of this study was to characterize alcohol consumption measured with this technology among alcohol use disorder treatment outpatients in two clinical trials. METHODS: Participants were community-based alcohol treatment outpatients in usual care (N = 63) during the first three years of studies that monitored drinking with the secure continuous remote alcohol monitor (SCRAMx®) ankle bracelet. Research visits for uploading SCRAMx data occurred every other week in Study 1 (n = 43) and once weekly in Study 2 (n = 20), for 3 months. Staff used timeline follow-back procedures to collect self-reports of drinking frequency and magnitude at each research visit. RESULTS: In the 90 days before intake, 85.7% (n = 54) of participants reported consuming alcohol, and consumption occurred on a median (interquartile range) 35.7% (29.0%) of days. During the treatment period, per SCRAMx versus self-report, the percentage who drank was 92.1% (n = 58) versus 46.6% (n = 30), p = .03, and consumption occurred on 16.5% (36.5%) versus 0.0% (21.4%) of days, respectively, p < .001. Median longest duration of abstinence was 26.0 (25.0) versus 39.0 (58.0) days, respectively, p < .001. Breath alcohol concentration, estimated from SCRAMx data, ranged from 0.02 to 0.91 g/dL. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to quantify alcohol consumption among alcohol treatment outpatients using transdermal sensor technology. Results indicate that most patients drank while in outpatient care. Issues to consider for future applications of this technology and implications for alcohol treatment are discussed.

Monitoring alcohol use in heavy drinking soup kitchen attendees.

Rates of heavy alcohol use in soup kitchen attendees range from 30% to 38%, but these data are based entirely on self-reported drinking. Little is known about the intensity or frequency of drinking in this population. We assessed alcohol use transdermally every 30 min over a 3-week period among heavy drinkers who attended local soup kitchens. In addition to transdermal alcohol monitoring, participants were randomly assigned to daily breath alcohol monitoring with or without reinforcement for alcohol-negative breath samples (BrAC). Analyses assessed feasibility of transdermal monitoring and examined alcohol use based on BrAC, transdermal, and self-report data, as well as effect sizes for these metrics based on group assignment. Nineteen participants completed the 21-day monitoring period in full; three persons removed the anklet 3-16 days early due to hospitalization, impending hospitalization, or incarceration. Participants reported minimal impacts of the monitors, and severity ratings of side effects were mild. When using BrAC, transdermal, and self-report data, the percentage of non-drinking days was 93%, 58%, and 57%, and the longest duration of consecutive non-drinking days averaged 10.3, 7.2, and 5.7 days, respectively. About half of drinking days involved heavy drinking (5 + drinks). Self-report and transdermal drinking days correlated significantly, p < .001, but neither index was associated with BrAC. Group comparisons indicate small-to-moderate sized effects of reinforcement compared to no reinforcement for increasing the proportion of alcohol-negative breath samples and durations of consecutive non-drinking samples during the study when BrAC was the metric. Transdermal data and self-report data indicated a more complex pattern. Reinforcement participants drank more often but at lower quantities than monitoring (control) participants per both transdermal and self-report data. These data suggest that transdermal monitors are well tolerated and document substantial heavy drinking in this population. Soup kitchens users are in need of alcohol interventions, and soup kitchens may represent a novel opportunistic setting for intervention delivery for an important and growing health disparities population.

A cohort study of patients seeking Internet gaming disorder treatment.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Although Internet gaming disorder (IGD) is included as a condition in the fifth edition of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, little is known about its nature or treatment response. This study is a follow-up of 755 patients who received professional treatment for IGD over a 5-year period. METHODS: The initial recommended treatment course lasted for 8 weeks, with additional care provided as needed. Treatment completion rates in the complete sample, as well as baseline predictors of treatment completion and long-term recovery among the 367 patients who completed the follow-up, are reported. RESULTS: Nearly two thirds of patients who initiated treatment for IGD completed the 8-week psychotherapy. Of these, about two thirds who had not recovered completely by the end were offered additional care. Independent predictors of extended treatment were higher baseline scores on the Young Internet Addiction Scale, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Korean-Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder-Rating Scale (K-ADHD-RS). Between 1 and 5 years later, 33.5% of the complete sample was considered as recovered from IGD. Significant predictors of recovery from IGD were older age, earlier admission to the clinic, lower baseline scores on the BDI and K-ADHD-RS, and no offer of extended treatment. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: The majority of the patients seeking treatment for IGD continued experiencing difficulties and randomized controlled trials of interventions, which are needed to be conducted to improve outcomes. Age, family, social factors, and psychological symptoms should be considered, while designing and evaluating interventions, because they impact initial and sustained response to treatment for IGD.

A randomized trial of contingency management reinforcing attendance at treatment: Do duration and timing of reinforcement matter?

OBJECTIVE: Contingency management (CM) interventions that reinforce attendance have rarely been evaluated in terms of reducing drug use. Using a sequential randomized design, this study examined the efficacy of three attendance CM conditions compared to usual care (UC) on drug use outcomes. It evaluated whether the duration (6 vs. 12 weeks) and timing (early vs. later treatment) of CM delivery impact treatment response. METHOD: Upon initiating outpatient treatment, patients with cocaine use disorders (N = 360) were randomized to UC or CM for attending treatment for 6 weeks. At week 6, patients (n = 308) were rerandomized to UC or CM for another 6 weeks, with assignment stratified on current functioning. Samples were screened for illicit drugs twice weekly for 12 weeks. RESULTS: Patients randomized to CM at both time-points attended more sessions and achieved more abstinence than those never randomized to CM. Relative to UC, receiving attendance CM in weeks 1-6 only was not efficacious, but those receiving attendance CM in weeks 7-12 only evidenced some benefits compared to those who never received CM. Twelve weeks of attendance CM was more efficacious than 6 weeks. No between-groups differences in drug use were noted at follow-ups, but days attended treatment and proportion negative samples during treatment were associated with long-term cocaine abstinence. CONCLUSIONS: Attendance-based CM increases treatment participation and reduces drug use, with beneficial effects noted when CM is delivered over longer durations and during later phases of outpatient care. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).

Substance Use in Adults With Type 1 Diabetes in the T1D Exchange.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to evaluate frequency of use and problem use of psychoactive substances in adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Standardized instruments for assessing tobacco, alcohol, and other psychoactive substance use were emailed to 4311 adult participants at 69 T1D Exchange Registry Exchange Registry centers. A total of 936 respondents (61% female, 90% non-Hispanic white, age 38 ± 16 years) completed the survey. RESULTS: In the sample, 166 (18%) reported past-year use of tobacco and 51 (5%) reported daily use. Past-year alcohol use was reported by 742 (79%) participants, past-month use by 592 (63%), and daily/near-daily use by 87 (9%); 174 (19%) were classified as binge drinkers and 93 (11%) as problem drinkers. Nonprescription use of another psychoactive substance in the past year was reported by 228 (24%), with 167 (18%) indicating they used marijuana, 67 (7%) opioids, 45 (5%) sedatives, and 37 (4%) stimulants. Past-year problem use of these substances was noted in 31 (3%) respondents. CONCLUSIONS: Adults with T1D in the United States use substances at rates that meet or exceed the general population; problematic use occurs at rates similar to the general population. These data delineate the need to inquire about regular, intermittent, and problematic use of nicotine and other substances in individuals with T1D. A better understanding of the impact of moderate and occasional use of substances on T1D management and clinical outcomes is needed.

Policy and prevention efforts for gaming should consider a broad perspective.

Internet gaming disorder is gaining attention around the world. Some efforts have been directed toward preventing gaming problems from developing or persisting, but few approaches have been empirically evaluated. No known effective prevention intervention exists. Reviewing the broader field of prevention research should help research and best practices move forward in abating problems that arise from excessive gaming.

Including gaming disorder in the ICD-11: The need to do so from a clinical and public health perspective.

The proposed introduction of gaming disorder (GD) in the 11th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) has led to a lively debate over the past year. Besides the broad support for the decision in the academic press, a recent publication by van Rooij et al. (2018) repeated the criticism raised against the inclusion of GD in ICD-11 by Aarseth et al. (2017). We argue that this group of researchers fails to recognize the clinical and public health considerations, which support the WHO perspective. It is important to recognize a range of biases that may influence this debate; in particular, the gaming industry may wish to diminish its responsibility by claiming that GD is not a public health problem, a position which maybe supported by arguments from scholars based in media psychology, computer games research, communication science, and related disciplines. However, just as with any other disease or disorder in the ICD-11, the decision whether or not to include GD is based on clinical evidence and public health needs. Therefore, we reiterate our conclusion that including GD reflects the essence of the ICD and will facilitate treatment and prevention for those who need it.

Behavioral Addictions as Mental Disorders: To Be or Not To Be?

Should excessive and problematic engagement in nonsubstance use behaviors be mental disorders? The fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) repositioned gambling disorder in the substance use disorders section and introduced Internet gaming disorder in the research appendix; the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) is also considering it. This article outlines pros and cons of considering behavioral addictions as mental disorders and also reviews the DSM-5 decision-making processes. It focuses on three conditions: gambling disorder, Internet gaming disorder (IGD), and Internet addiction (IA). We detail assessment methods and prevalence rates for these conditions and outline psychiatric comorbidities, demographic and biological risk factors, and promising treatment approaches. We also briefly discuss other putative behavioral addictions: eating/food, sex, exercise, shopping, and tanning "addictions." Overall, data are inconclusive, and consistent terminology and methodology are needed to define and evaluate these conditions more fully prior to considering them mental disorders.

Implementing single-item screening for drug use in a Veterans Health Administration outpatient setting.

BACKGROUND: Unhealthy drug use is a concern in many settings, including military and veteran populations. In 2013, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) medical center in Bedford, Massachusetts, started requiring routine screening for unhealthy drug use in outpatient primary care and mental health settings, using a validated single question. METHODS: This study used descriptive and multivariable analyses of VHA electronic records for patients eligible for the screening program (N = 16,118). The study assessed first-year rates and predictors of screening and of positive screens, both for drug use and for unhealthy alcohol use, for which screening was already required. RESULTS: During the first year, 70% of patients were screened for unhealthy drug use and 84% were screened for unhealthy alcohol use. In multivariable analyses, screening for drug use was more likely for patients who had 8 or more days with VHA visits or were aged 40 or over. Patients with a prior drug use disorder diagnosis were much less likely to be screened. Three percent of patients screened for unhealthy drug use had a positive screen, and 14% of those screened for unhealthy alcohol use had a positive screen. Strong predictors of a positive drug use screen included a prior-year diagnosis of drug use disorder, any mental health clinic visits, younger age, or being unmarried. CONCLUSIONS: The drug screening initiative was relatively successful in its first-year implementation, having screened 70% of eligible subjects. However, it failed to screen many of those most likely to screen positive, thereby missing many opportunities to address unhealthy drug use. Future refinements should include better training clinicians in how to ask sensitive questions and how to address positive screens.

The national implementation of Contingency Management (CM) in the Department of Veterans Affairs: Attendance at CM sessions and substance use outcomes.

BACKGROUND: In 2011, the Department of Veterans Affairs launched an initiative to expand patients' access to contingency management (CM) for the treatment of substance use disorders, particularly stimulant use disorder. This study evaluates the uptake and effectiveness of the VA initiative by presenting data on participation in coaching, fidelity to key components of the CM protocol, and clinical outcomes (CM attendance and substance use). METHODS: Fifty-five months after the first VA stations began offering CM to patients in June 2011, 94 stations had made CM available to 2060 patients. As those 94 VA stations began delivering CM to Veterans, their staff participated in coaching calls to maintain fidelity to CM procedures. As a part of the CM coaching process, those 94 implementation sites provided data describing the setting and structure of their CM programs as well as their fidelity practices. Additional data on patients' CM attendance and urine test results also were collected from the 94 implementation sites. RESULTS: The mean number of coaching calls the 94 programs participated in was 6.5. The majority of sites implemented CM according to recommended standard guidelines and reported high fidelity with most CM practices. On average, patients attended more than half their scheduled CM sessions, and the average percent of samples that tested negative for the target substance was 91.1%. CONCLUSION: The VA's CM implementation initiative has resulted in widespread uptake of CM and produced attendance and substance use outcomes comparable to those found in controlled clinical trials.

A randomized trial of contingency management for smoking cessation in the homeless.

Smoking-cessation services are an unmet need among the homeless, who smoke at rates more than 4 times the national estimate. Successful interventions have high potential for improving tobacco-related health disparities among homeless smokers. Contingency management (CM) is a behavioral intervention with efficacy in a number of substance-use disorder populations, including smokers. However, no randomized studies have evaluated the effect of CM in homeless smokers. We examined smoking-related outcomes in homeless smokers (N = 70) randomized to standard-care (SC) smoking cessation involving transdermal nicotine-replacement therapy (NRT), standard counseling, and carbon monoxide (CO) monitoring or the same SC plus CM for negative CO sample submissions. Participants randomized to CM achieved significantly longer durations of consecutive abstinence and submitted a significantly higher proportion of CO-negative samples relative to standard-care participants. At 4 weeks postquit day, 22% were abstinent in the CM condition and 9% were abstinent in the SC condition. At the 6-month follow-up, about 10% of smokers in both conditions were abstinent. This study demonstrates that CM is an efficacious option to increase initial quit rates in homeless smokers, but methods to extend effects are needed. (PsycINFO Database Record

Internet Gaming Disorder in Children and Adolescents.

The American Psychiatric Association recently included Internet gaming disorder (IGD) as a potential diagnosis, recommending that further study be conducted to help illuminate it more clearly. This paper is a summary of the review undertaken by the IGD Working Group as part of the 2015 National Academy of Sciences Sackler Colloquium on Digital Media and Developing Minds. By using measures based on or similar to the IGD definition, we found that prevalence rates range between ∼1% and 9%, depending on age, country, and other sample characteristics. The etiology of IGD is not well-understood at this time, although it appears that impulsiveness and high amounts of time gaming may be risk factors. Estimates for the length of time the disorder can last vary widely, but it is unclear why. Although the authors of several studies have demonstrated that IGD can be treated, no randomized controlled trials have yet been published, making any definitive statements about treatment impossible. IGD does, therefore, appear to be an area in which additional research is clearly needed. We discuss several of the critical questions that future research should address and provide recommendations for clinicians, policy makers, and educators on the basis of what we know at this time.