Digital Escape: Internet Addiction as a Coping Mechanism and Prodrome of Psychosis in an Adolescent

Internet gaming disorder is an emerging behavioral addiction among adolescents and can lead to emotional, social, and academic difficulties. We report a 16-year-old boy with no prior psychiatric history who developed excessive internet gaming during the COVID-19 lockdown. His father’s alcohol use and aggressive behavior caused significant emotional distress, and online gaming became his main coping strategy. His screen time gradually increased to over 15 hours per day, leading to school dropout, social withdrawal, self-harm, suicidal thoughts, and paranoid ideas. He also reported hearing his father’s voice in his absence. Assessment showed severe internet addiction. Partial improvement was noted with medication and psychosocial interventions. This case highlights how adverse family environments and maladaptive coping through gaming can contribute to severe psychological distress in adolescents.