Common practice elements of cognitive behavioral therapy for gaming disorder: A systematic review and expert panel evaluation
1
Issued Date
2026-06-01
Resource Type
ISSN
02727358
eISSN
18737811
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-105035656324
Journal Title
Clinical Psychology Review
Volume
126
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Clinical Psychology Review Vol.126 (2026)
Suggested Citation
Radunz M., Stevens M.W.R., Behm S., Hameed M., Bowden-Jones H., Delfabbro P., Demetrovics Z., Higuchi S., Potenza M.N., Wölfling K., Brandhorst I., Bore P., Claesdotter-Knutsson E., González-Bueso V., Herpertz S., Dieris-Hirche J., Hofstedt A., Gordh A.S., Jiménez-Murcia S., Nielsen P., Pallesen S., Paschke K., Ratta-apha W., Rigter H., Santamaria J.J., Sugara G.S., King D.L. Common practice elements of cognitive behavioral therapy for gaming disorder: A systematic review and expert panel evaluation. Clinical Psychology Review Vol.126 (2026). doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2026.102740 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/116281
Title
Common practice elements of cognitive behavioral therapy for gaming disorder: A systematic review and expert panel evaluation
Author(s)
Radunz M.
Stevens M.W.R.
Behm S.
Hameed M.
Bowden-Jones H.
Delfabbro P.
Demetrovics Z.
Higuchi S.
Potenza M.N.
Wölfling K.
Brandhorst I.
Bore P.
Claesdotter-Knutsson E.
González-Bueso V.
Herpertz S.
Dieris-Hirche J.
Hofstedt A.
Gordh A.S.
Jiménez-Murcia S.
Nielsen P.
Pallesen S.
Paschke K.
Ratta-apha W.
Rigter H.
Santamaria J.J.
Sugara G.S.
King D.L.
Stevens M.W.R.
Behm S.
Hameed M.
Bowden-Jones H.
Delfabbro P.
Demetrovics Z.
Higuchi S.
Potenza M.N.
Wölfling K.
Brandhorst I.
Bore P.
Claesdotter-Knutsson E.
González-Bueso V.
Herpertz S.
Dieris-Hirche J.
Hofstedt A.
Gordh A.S.
Jiménez-Murcia S.
Nielsen P.
Pallesen S.
Paschke K.
Ratta-apha W.
Rigter H.
Santamaria J.J.
Sugara G.S.
King D.L.
Author's Affiliation
University of Cambridge
Yale School of Medicine
Universitat de Barcelona
The University of Adelaide
Université de Genève
Leids Universitair Medisch Centrum
Universitetet i Bergen
Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf
Eötvös Loránd Tudományegyetem
Universitätsklinikum und Medizinische Fakultät Tübingen
Sahlgrenska Akademin
Universitätsmedizin Mainz
Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge
Siriraj Hospital
Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red-Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición
Institutionen för Kliniska Vetenskaper, Lund
University of Adelaide, School of Psychology
LWL-Universitätsklinikum der Ruhr-Universität Bochum
National Hospital Organization Kurihama Medical and Addiction Center
University of Gibraltar
Universitas Muhammadiyah Tasikmalaya
Flinders University Institute for Mental Health and Wellbeing
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Clinic
Malmö Addiction Center
Mental Health and Addictions Service
Yale School of Medicine
Universitat de Barcelona
The University of Adelaide
Université de Genève
Leids Universitair Medisch Centrum
Universitetet i Bergen
Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf
Eötvös Loránd Tudományegyetem
Universitätsklinikum und Medizinische Fakultät Tübingen
Sahlgrenska Akademin
Universitätsmedizin Mainz
Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge
Siriraj Hospital
Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red-Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición
Institutionen för Kliniska Vetenskaper, Lund
University of Adelaide, School of Psychology
LWL-Universitätsklinikum der Ruhr-Universität Bochum
National Hospital Organization Kurihama Medical and Addiction Center
University of Gibraltar
Universitas Muhammadiyah Tasikmalaya
Flinders University Institute for Mental Health and Wellbeing
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Clinic
Malmö Addiction Center
Mental Health and Addictions Service
Corresponding Author(s)
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Gaming disorder (GD) is an addictive disorder with health and social impacts recognized by the World Health Organization. Although the GD treatment evidence base appear to favor cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), knowledge of its common practice elements is limited. This systematic review critically evaluates CBT interventions for GD, encompassing individual, group, and mixed approaches, to identify and synthesize common practice elements. Employing a systematic review protocol following PRISMA guidelines and guided by an international expert panel, this review identified CBT studies and then critically reviewed their associated treatment manuals, guidelines, handouts, and related resources. A database search yielding 8479 results identified 28 studies from 12 countries reporting on 22 CBT interventions (n = 7 individual; n = 7 group; n = 8 mixed). Study authors were invited to share intervention materials, which were then independently coded and synthesized. Overall, 14 common practice elements were identified. The most frequent element was emotion regulation skills training (n = 21; 95.5%), followed by psychoeducation (n = 20; 90.9%) and cognitive restructuring (n = 19; 86.4%). Exposure techniques, and strength identification and self-compassion were the least frequent (n = 6; 27.3%). All individual CBT interventions used behavioral activation, psychoeducation, and relapse prevention, whereas emotion regulation skills training was the most frequently used element in group CBT. These findings reveal commonly reported CBT practice elements in the GD evidence base and provide expert summaries of established and less utilized therapeutic techniques. Improving the field's shared understanding of CBT is foundational to advancing GD clinical research and a model of best practice.