Assessment of causality between computer game playing and neuropsychiatric disorders: A bidirectional Mendelian randomization study

Introduction Clinical studies indicated that computer games improve various aspects of physical function in different patients. However, research on the prevention of neuropsychiatric disorders through computer games is still insufficient. We utilized Mendelian randomization (MR) to assess whether t...

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Main Authors: Kangming Huo, Yinping Liu, Zhongwen Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2025-04-01
Series:Digital Health
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076251339263
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author Kangming Huo
Yinping Liu
Zhongwen Zhang
author_facet Kangming Huo
Yinping Liu
Zhongwen Zhang
author_sort Kangming Huo
collection DOAJ
description Introduction Clinical studies indicated that computer games improve various aspects of physical function in different patients. However, research on the prevention of neuropsychiatric disorders through computer games is still insufficient. We utilized Mendelian randomization (MR) to assess whether there are the causal associations between playing computer games and schizophrenia (SCZ), bipolar disorder (BP), depression, panic disorder (PD), and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Methods We utilized summary statistics from genome-wide association studies of computer game playing and neuropsychiatric disorders. Inverse variance weighted (IVW) method was used as the primary analysis approach to perform bidirectional two-sample MR analysis on the data. Cochran Q test, MR-Egger intercept analysis, and leave-one-out method were used to perform sensitivity analysis to assess the reliability of the analysis results. Results Findings revealed that computer gaming significantly lowers the risk of SCZ (IVW: odds ratio [OR] = 0.066, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.013–0.327, p = 8.885 × 10 −4 ) and BP (IVW: OR = 0.213, 95% CI: 0.053–0.850, p = 0.029), with individuals having these conditions tending to reduce their computer gaming activities. Similarly, computer gaming was found to decrease the risk of depression (IVW: OR = 0.565, 95% CI: 0.323–0.989, p = 0.046), PD (IVW: OR = 0.234, 95% CI: 0.078–0.700, p = 0.009) and AD (IVW: OR = 0.323, 95% CI: 0.132–0.786, p = 0.013). Conclusion Our study emphasizes the potential of computer games in the prevention of various neuropsychiatric disorders, providing new perspectives and references for the prevention of neuropsychiatric disorders.
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spelling doaj-art-3dea4bb63bc045b88bd89dbd63e731a42025-08-20T02:19:45ZengSAGE PublishingDigital Health2055-20762025-04-011110.1177/20552076251339263Assessment of causality between computer game playing and neuropsychiatric disorders: A bidirectional Mendelian randomization studyKangming HuoYinping LiuZhongwen ZhangIntroduction Clinical studies indicated that computer games improve various aspects of physical function in different patients. However, research on the prevention of neuropsychiatric disorders through computer games is still insufficient. We utilized Mendelian randomization (MR) to assess whether there are the causal associations between playing computer games and schizophrenia (SCZ), bipolar disorder (BP), depression, panic disorder (PD), and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Methods We utilized summary statistics from genome-wide association studies of computer game playing and neuropsychiatric disorders. Inverse variance weighted (IVW) method was used as the primary analysis approach to perform bidirectional two-sample MR analysis on the data. Cochran Q test, MR-Egger intercept analysis, and leave-one-out method were used to perform sensitivity analysis to assess the reliability of the analysis results. Results Findings revealed that computer gaming significantly lowers the risk of SCZ (IVW: odds ratio [OR] = 0.066, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.013–0.327, p = 8.885 × 10 −4 ) and BP (IVW: OR = 0.213, 95% CI: 0.053–0.850, p = 0.029), with individuals having these conditions tending to reduce their computer gaming activities. Similarly, computer gaming was found to decrease the risk of depression (IVW: OR = 0.565, 95% CI: 0.323–0.989, p = 0.046), PD (IVW: OR = 0.234, 95% CI: 0.078–0.700, p = 0.009) and AD (IVW: OR = 0.323, 95% CI: 0.132–0.786, p = 0.013). Conclusion Our study emphasizes the potential of computer games in the prevention of various neuropsychiatric disorders, providing new perspectives and references for the prevention of neuropsychiatric disorders.https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076251339263
spellingShingle Kangming Huo
Yinping Liu
Zhongwen Zhang
Assessment of causality between computer game playing and neuropsychiatric disorders: A bidirectional Mendelian randomization study
Digital Health
title Assessment of causality between computer game playing and neuropsychiatric disorders: A bidirectional Mendelian randomization study
title_full Assessment of causality between computer game playing and neuropsychiatric disorders: A bidirectional Mendelian randomization study
title_fullStr Assessment of causality between computer game playing and neuropsychiatric disorders: A bidirectional Mendelian randomization study
title_full_unstemmed Assessment of causality between computer game playing and neuropsychiatric disorders: A bidirectional Mendelian randomization study
title_short Assessment of causality between computer game playing and neuropsychiatric disorders: A bidirectional Mendelian randomization study
title_sort assessment of causality between computer game playing and neuropsychiatric disorders a bidirectional mendelian randomization study
url https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076251339263
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AT yinpingliu assessmentofcausalitybetweencomputergameplayingandneuropsychiatricdisordersabidirectionalmendelianrandomizationstudy
AT zhongwenzhang assessmentofcausalitybetweencomputergameplayingandneuropsychiatricdisordersabidirectionalmendelianrandomizationstudy