Group gaming program for people with hazardous gaming behavior
Official title: A Study to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Group Gaming Interventions for Individuals With Problematic Gaming Behavior and Gaming Disorder.
Run by Shanghai Mental Health Center · NCT07363850 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study tries a series of group game activities to help students with hazardous gaming behaviors see if their gaming-related problems improve.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 12 Years to 18 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 100 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Shanghai Mental Health Center Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | October 1, 2025 |
| Main results expected | September 1, 2026 |
| Study ends | December 31, 2026 |
| Registry record updated | January 23, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07363850 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are students who meet ICD-11 criteria for hazardous gaming, can understand the procedures, and provide informed consent with parental permission.
✕Probably not a fit
People with a formal clinical diagnosis of gaming disorder, serious physical illness, intellectual disability, or those who do not complete the sessions or assessments are unlikely to benefit from this program.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This randomized, parallel-group trial assigns participants to either a group gaming intervention or a control group in a two-arm design. The intervention group takes part in a series of guided, game-based activities delivered in group sessions, while the control group does not receive the group gaming intervention. Recruitment is done through schools with online screening, parental briefings, and informed consent, and participants undergo assessments before the intervention, immediately after, and at a three-month follow-up. The protocol excludes people with serious physical illness, intellectual disability, or a formal clinical diagnosis of gaming disorder and requires completion of all intervention sessions and assessments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could reduce hazardous gaming behaviors and improve social and behavioral functioning in participating students.
How similar studies have gone: Previous small studies of gamified and group-based behavioral interventions for problematic gaming have shown mixed but sometimes promising results, while this specific group gaming program is relatively novel.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * (1) Clinical diagnosis of hazardous gaming defined in the ICD-11 (2) Fully comprehending the research's purpose and procedures and signing the informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * (1)Serious physical illness or intellectual disability (2) Clinical diagnosis of gaming disorder (3) Not completing all the interventions or assessments
Where it's running
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Shanghai Mental Health Center
Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality, China Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Na Zhong, MD
- Email: winco917@hotmail.com
- Phone: 008613671644472
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.