Editorials: Virtually addicted: Why general practice must now confront screen dependency

摘要

Discretionary screen time [ST] is now the main waking activity of children: a Lifestyle factor as relevant to health as nutrition and physical activity. High ST is increasingly considered an independent risk factor, often exhibiting a dose-response relationship with cardiometabolic disease, unfavourable child development outcomes, and adult morbidity and mortality, ultimately placing greater pressure on primary care services.1 The US Department of Health has issued 'recommended limits for screen time' as one of its national 'health improvement priorities' and a key 'disease prevention objective'.2 Public Health England recently reported their concern over: Increased screen time... evidence suggests a "dose-response" relationship, where each additional hour of viewing increases the likelihood of experiencing socio-emotional problems'? As concern grows over the amount of ST, the term 'addiction' is increasingly used by physicians to describe the rising number of children engaging in a variety of screen activities in a dependent, problematic manner. The diagnostic vernacular is still evolving: internet addiction disorder (IAD), at-risk/problematic internet use (ARPIU), pathological video game use, video game addiction, pathological technology use, online game addiction, and more. Although the current medical focus is on 'video gaming', other forms of screen use, from excessive messaging and social networking to 'porn addiction', can also become hiahlv problematic.