Objective: To examine differences in video game play between children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and children without the disorder. Design: Survey study, assessing frequency and duration of video game play, as well behaviors during play. Subjects and Setting: 29 children with ADHD and 21 non-ADHD childrcontinued

Objective: To examine differences in video game play between children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and children without the disorder.

Design: Survey study, assessing frequency and duration of video game play, as well behaviors during play.
Subjects and Setting: 29 children with ADHD and 21 non-ADHD children, ages 6-16. ADHD children (25 boys and 3 girls) were psychiatry outpatients at hospital in Bordeaux, France. Non-ADHD children (18 boys and 3 girls) were dental outpatients at Bordeaux-area clinic. Parents completed questionnaire.

Intervention(s): N/A

Outcome Measure(s): Frequency and duration of video game play. Behaviors related to video game play.

Results: ADHD and non-ADHD children did not differ significantly with respect to frequency or duration of video game play, or with respect to type of video game played. ADHD children were significantly less likely to stop playing video games when asked by their parents (p=.02), compared with non-ADHD children, and were significantly more likely to respond with refusal, tears, angry, or violence when asked (p=.008). ADHD children were also more likely to exhibit problematic video game play (p=.002), including loss of control and preoccupation.

Conclusion: Although children with ADHD did not spend more time playing video games than children without ADHD, they did show more signs of problematic behavior, such as dependence and loss of control, while playing video games. © Center on Media and Child Healthreturn