Dr. Gentile suggested that teenagers who are experiencing problems may retreat into gaming, and that the gaming may, in turn, increase their depression and isolation.
I agree with this statement. Many kids who play excessive amounts of video games are doing so as a form of escapism. They often already are experiencing depression and, in moderation, video games can help deal with it. However, when it gets to the point where a majority of their time is spent playing video games, it only contributes to those feelings of depression. I am currently a teenager and I often play video games (not to the extent of these people though). I find that playing video games actually helps me connect to people better as I play games that my friends recommend or multiplayer games. The way video games affect a person really depends on the type of game it is.