Video-Game Therapy

To the Editor: A growing number of adverse effects of the use of video and hand-held electronic games are being reported, including wrist pain,¹ tenosynovitis,² peripheral neuropathy,³ and seizures.^{4 , 5} Even fecal incontinence has been attributed to these modern electronic devices of diversion.⁶ Most problems result from long-term use involving repetitive hand movements. Concern has been voiced about the obsessive—compulsive use of such games.⁷ I wish to describe the use of video games in the management of compulsive habits.An eight-year-old boy was brought to the office by his mother for treatment of a nervous habit of more than two years' . . .