CHENNAI: A virtual, multiplayer, online game, termed ‘harmful’, ‘addictive’ and ‘distracting’, is banned or being banned in many countries. Now, Player Unknown’s Battlegrounds (

) seems to have come to town, with many youngsters being brought in for counselling to

.

“I have been getting 2-4 patients a month, who are addicted to the game,” says psychiatrist Dr Vinayak Vijayakumar. With most children having easy access to smartphones, parents don’t usually realize the problem initially. “It’s only when there is an academic decline or when they find their children spending long hours on their phones that they take action. When they take away the phones, the boys often react violently and aggressively, and that’s when parents seek help,” adds Dr Vijayakumar.

In PUBG, up to 100 players can participate in a battle royale with the last man standing the victor. Dr Vijayakumar’s patients are usually aged 13 and above, though he has got a few clients in their mid to late 20s. “All of them admit to playing the game about five hours a day. The older ones come in complaining they are finding it difficult to work and sleep but also can’t put their phone down,” he says.

‘Treatment for gaming addicts varies with age’

Dr Suresh Kumar, a psychiatrist specializing in deaddiction services, says his patients, aged 16 to 18, play 4-8 hours a day. “They can’t play during school hours, so they stay up late at night, which compromises on their sleep time. So they end up drowsy in school and cannot concentrate.”

What is it that makes the game so addictive? “It is easy to play, is free, and can be played on smartphones. You can play as an individual or a group and it is very thrilling as the last person or team to survive wins,” says Jigar Bhatt, retail manager of Arknemesis-Gaming, a gaming centre in Nungambakkam.

Dr Suresh Kumar says the online presence of many people at the same time is exciting to youngsters. “You are competing with your peers, and want to prove your mastery,” he says, adding that gamers often react violently when access to their phones, and the game, is restricted.

Dr Vijayakumar says the treatment varies with the age group. “If patients are above 18 and in college or working, taking away the phone is not an option. We advise parents to find alternative behaviour they can engage in, like a sports activity, and increase socialization.”

Psychiatrists also reassure youngsters they are not being treated for a mental health issue.

“We focus on psychological intervention and motivational counselling. We tell them that we are helping them improve concentration etc and help them see the harm in excessive use,” says Dr Suresh Kumar. Parents should be aware of the number of hours their children spend on mobile phones.

Ensuring the computer your child uses is placed in a common area like the hall, also helps, says Dr Suresh Kumar. “Parents assume children need to use mobiles to access homework and projects sent on WhatsApp but they can use it on the computer instead,” he says.