Trial reportJournal of behavioral addictions2026
The effectiveness of an online acceptance and commitment therapy self-help course in reducing excessive gaming behavior through inhibitory control: A pilot randomized controlled trial.
Trial report in Journal of behavioral addictions, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Acceptance and Commitment Group Therapy for Problematic Gaming in Adolescents: A Randomized Controlled Trial.Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
15 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Background and aims: Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) has emerged as a significant mental health concern. However, a substantial number of young people exhibit excessive gaming behavior (EGB) without meeting the full criteria for IGD. Compared to IGD, studies on EGB are limited. On the basis of innovative design acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) online self-help course, this study explored the mechanism of ACT self-help course improving inhibitory control ability and alleviating EGB. Methods: This study focused on college students with Internet Gaming Disorder-20 Test (IGD-20) scores between 55 and 70 and more than 21 h of weekly gaming time, representing individuals in the EGB stage who had not yet reached IGD. A total of 58 individuals with EGB (mean age = 20.5 ± 1.2 years) underwent an ACT self-help course (n = 30) or a routine education intervention (n = 28). The IGD-20, Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Adult Version (BRIEF-A), and Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (AAQ-II) were used to assess participants before and after the intervention. GO/NOGO tasks and electroencephalogram activities (N200, P300) were also recorded. Results: Compared to the control group, the ACT group exhibited significantly lower game addictive behaviors (IGD-20 score), reduced game time, and improved executive function (BRIEF-A) and cognitive flexibility (AAQ-II). Additionally, the ACT group demonstrated significantly improved NOGO task accuracy, increased N200 amplitude, and shortened P300 latency. Furthermore, correlation analyses and regression model identified that reduced gaming time, alongside improvements in executive function, psychological flexibility, and N200 amplitude, were significant predictors of treatment success. Conclusions: The online ACT self-help course effectively reduced excessive gaming (EGB) and enhanced Inhibitory control. Its efficacy appears driven by simultaneous improvements in psychological and neurocognitive processes, highlighting its clinical potential for treating EGB and IGD.
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Registered trials
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