Do Computer Games Affect Arousal Level in Children With Attention/Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder?

Background: Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common psychiatric complication in children, which affects about 5-10% of the population. Although ADHD is a multi-factorial disorder, one of its causes refers to dysfunction of the arousal. Objectives: The current study aimed at investigating whether a change in arousal level in children with ADHD differs from the control group. Materials & Methods: To achieve the research objectives, the mean Skin Conductance Levels (SCLs) as an useful index of measuring arousal levels was used, and then the changes during resting eyes-open condition and after that during playing computer games on 15 male subjects aged 8 to 12 years as the ADHD group and other 15 age-gender matched in the control group were evaluated; then, the recorded data were analyzed with repeated measures analysis of variance. The study was conducted in a child mental health services center in Tabriz, Iran, in 2012. Results: Across conditions, mean SCL index was lower in the ADHD group than that of controls. Computer games caused a significant increase in SCL index, which was not different between the both groups. The findings showed a similar pattern of changes during testing conditions for both the ADHD and control groups F(1,28)=85.90; P