Video game addicts have traits similar to junkies

London, Apr 3 : Psychologists have revealed that video game addicts have personality traits similar to that of drug addicts.

The University of Bolton study conducted over 400 video game addicts discovered that three per cent of the gamers ignored their meals and went without sleep to spend more time playing.

The gamers were more introverted, emotionally unstable with lower self-esteem, the researchers found.

Psychologists at the British Psychological Society conference in Dublin said that the gamers also showed symptoms similar to Asperger's syndrome, a type of autism.

"Our research supports the idea that people who are heavily involved in game playing may be nearer to autistic spectrum disorders than people who have no interest in gaming," Telegraph quoted Dr John Charlton, lead researcher, of the University of Bolton.

ANI