Introduction/Rationale: Gaming Disorders (GD) are on the rise globally, impacting people’s mental health and daily activities and, in turn, people’s performance patterns. While occupational therapy (OT) contributes to enabling health and well-being, occupational therapists have only recently started to work in this area. Thus, there is a need for a conceptual framework to delineate how occupational therapists can work in this area.
Objectives: This paper presents a theoretical, conceptual practice model of occupational therapy practice for individuals with GD.
Methods/Approach: We reviewed the existing multidisciplinary literature on the management of gaming disorders. This included three databases and a review of key websites and books. We completed the process based on conventional synthesis and conceptual reasoning in collaboration with clinicians and academicians from the multidisciplinary team.
Results/Practice implications: The three models and theories identified are the Model of Human Occupation (MOHO), Person-Environment Occupation (PEO), and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Thus, this newly synthesized model helps to focus on volition, habituation, thoughts, behavior, enablers, and barriers in the environment, eventually leading to occupational adaptation and participation. Furthermore, the model will guide the assessment and treatment of GD to achieve well-being.
Conclusion/Contribution to the occupational therapy profession: An integrated approach using MOHO, PEO, and CBT could help guide OT with a comprehensive knowledge of GD. Further, it assists inplanning assessment and treatment. This Preliminary conceptualization of the topic at a practice level guides clinical practice. In addition, the interdisciplinary research also facilitated collaboration and multiple perspectives on GD.We call for high-quality studies to examine the entire range of OT interventions, gain new insights, and embrace the opportunity for the profession.