IamA Harvard-trained Addiction Psychiatrist with a focus on video game addiction, here to answer questions about gaming & mental health. AMA!

Hello Reddit,

My name is Alok Kanojia, and I'm a psychiatrist working in the Addictions division of McLean hospital, here to answer your questions about mental health & gaming.

My short bio:

I almost failed out of college due to excessive video gaming, and after spending some time studying meditation & Eastern medicine, eventually ended up training to be a psychiatrist at Harvard Medical School, where I now serve as faculty.

Throughout my professional training, I was surprised by the absence of training in video game addiction. Three years ago, I started spending nights and weekends trying to help gamers gain control of their lives.

I now work in the Addiction division of McLean Hospital, the #1 Psychiatric Hospital according to US News and World report (Source).

In my free time, I try to help gamers move from problematic gaming to a balanced life where they are moving towards their goals, but still having fun playing games (if that's what they want).

Video game addiction affects between 2-7% of the population, conserved worldwide. In one study from Germany that looked at people between the ages of 12-25, about 5.7% met criteria (with 8.4% of males meeting criteria. (Source)

In the United States alone, there are between ~10-30 million people who meet criteria for video game addiction.

In light of yesterday's tragedies in Jacksonville, people tend to blame gaming for all sorts of things. I don't think this is very fair. In my experience, gaming can have a profound positive or negative in someone's life.

I am here to answer your questions about mental health & gaming, or video game addiction. AMA!

My Proof: https://truepic.com/j4j9h9dl

Twitter: [@kanojiamd] (https://twitter.com/kanojiamd)

EDIT #1: I'm answering questions as fast as I can - please be patient. I'm trying to offer references for as many statements as possible, for people interested in learning more. This is slowing me down a bit.

EDIT #2: Thank you for all of your questions, comments, and criticisms. I'm grateful for your attention, and hope I've been able to help or educate. I'm going to catch some sleep, and will start answering questions around 8 AM EST