PUBG-related suicides during the COVID-19 pandemic: Three cases from Pakistan.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: The present case report presents the most extreme negative aspects of gaming, namely PUBG-related suicide during the coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic in Pakistan. CASE PRESENTATION Three suicide cases of extreme gamers occurred within a few days of each other in Lahore, Pakistan. All three were young males aged 16-20 years and their suicides appear to be related to PUBG addiction. It is likely that all three individuals experienced other predisposing factors relating to psychological instability. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS For vulnerable groups such as adolescents and emerging adults who have psychological predispositions and/or other comorbidities, engrossing videogames which take up many hours a day such as PUBG may pose a risk which in the most extreme cases may be fatal.