The Internet Game Use-Elicited Symptom Screen proved to be a valid tool for adolescents aged 10–19 years

Aim: This study tested the diagnostic validity of the nine-item Internet Game Use-Elicited Symptom Screen (IGUESS) tool, which was developed by the authors after the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition, identified Internet gaming as a condition that needed further study. Methods: A self-report screening test comprising IGUESS and Young's Internet Addiction Test was administered to 121 adolescents (74% boys) with a median age of 14 (range 10–19) recruited from school and health settings in Korea. After the screening test, a clinician conducted one-to-one interviews with all of the subjects to set a gold standard for diagnosis. Results: The sensitivity and specificity of IGUESS were 87.0 and 86.7%, respectively, for a cut-off score of 10 points, with an area under the curve value of 0.93. Its reliability, as determined by Cronbach's alpha, was 0.94, and the correlation coefficient between IGUESS and Young's Internet Addiction Test was r = 0.902. Conclusion: The findings suggest that a cut-off score of 10 is appropriate for administering the IGUESS in various community-based settings, including schools, to screen for potential subjects in need of further assessment for Internet gaming problems.