Talking Point - Examining gaming disorder: prevalence, treatment, and prevention Presented by Dr Olatz Lopez-Fernandez

Description

Examining gaming disorder: prevalence, treatment, and prevention.

Presenter: Dr Olatz Lopez-Fernandez, PHD

Since 1996, internet addiction has been scientifically researched as a process addictive behaviour. This umbrella term addresses repeated behaviour leading to significant harm or distress, which is not reduced by the person and persists for over a year, producing functional impairment. Thus, it includes a spectrum of internet use-related addictive problems whereby gaming is included. Gaming is defined as a persistent and recurrent playing behaviour, often with other players through online settings, leading to clinically significant impairment or distress as indicated by addictive symptomatology for a period of a year. During the first decade of this century, the American Psychiatric Association discussed its formal recognition and finally included it as ‘internet gaming disorder’ in the third appendix of the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. In 2018, the World Health Organization formally included ‘Gaming disorder’ in the 11th Revision of the International Classification of Diseases. This presentation aims to show the evolution of this new addiction problem, highlighting how it is usually screened, its estimated prevalence, the user profile, the treatments undertaken, their prognosis, and a set of policy options recently drawn for its prevention. Lessons learned and future priorities will also be discussed.

Dr Olatz Lopez Fernandez PhD (Barcelona, 2007, 2013), is a health psychologist who specialises in addictive behaviours and educational technology. She is currently a Senior Lecturer at Monash University and the Course Coordinator of the Graduate Programs of Addictive Behaviours at Turning Point. Originally from Spain, Olatz joined the University of Barcelona (Spain) in 2002 and later specialised in addictive behaviours research in 2005, focusing her attention on internet-use related addiction problems. She was appointed Senior Researcher at the Catholic University of Louvain (Belgium) in 2014 as a Marie Curie Fellow (leading the project: Tech Use Disorders, for the European Commission). She subsequently continued on as Senior Lecturer at Nottingham Trent University (NTU) since 2016 (UK; leading the projects: Female gamer for NTU, and Harmful internet use - Part I: Internet addiction and problematic use, for the European Parliament). Olatz has led and contributed to research outcomes that have promoted the recognition of Gaming Disorder, such as collaborating as an independent expert in the World Health Assembly defending this approach.



DATE: Thursday 14th March 2019

VENUE: Turning Point, Training Room 1, Level 1, 110 Church Street, Richmond VIC 3121

TIME: 1:00pm – 2:00pm AEST


Free Seminar Event

REGISTRATION: There is no cost to attend but registrations are essential.

Getting to Turning Point:


Turning Point is located at 110 Church Street, on the corner of Church Street and Tweedie Place. Entrance is via the front of the building, to the right of the Skoda car dealership. Please take the lift to the first floor and visit reception.

Public transport:
•Tram 78 on Church Street
•Tram 109 on Victoria Parade (about a 5 min walk to 110 Church Street)
•Tram 75 on Bridge Rd (about a 7 min walk to 110 Church Street)

Car parking:

There is very limited 2 hour street parking available in the area. All day parking is available in:
1.Shelley Street, Richmond (between Butler and Elizabeth Streets) -about 1km walk to Church St (about $10/day).
2.Coles Richmond Plaza (actual address is 261 Bridge Rd, entry is by Cameron St, off Church St) https://www.interpark.com.au/parkings/coles-richmond-plaza-car-park/ (about $16/day). About an 8 minute walk or catch the No 78 tram from corner of Bridge Rd/Church St (stop 61). Alight at Tweedie Pl/Church St (Stop 63). NB: Stop 63 is also the stop for the Melbourne Clinic -we are on the same side of Church Street as Melbourne Clinic across Tweedie Place.
3.459 Church Street, Richmond http://www.carepark.com.au/find-a-care-park/459- church-street-richmond/ (about $16/day). About a 20 min walk or catch the No 78 tram which leaves from stop 55 (Adelaide St). Alight at Tweedie Pl/Church Street (Stop 63).

Please allow sufficient time for parking, arrival at 12:45pm recommended.

If you have any enquiries about the event please contact (03) 8413 8700.