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Article CommentaryAnalysis and Commentary

Violent Video Games in Forensic Psychiatric Hospitals

Tobias D. Wasser, Rocksheng Zhong, Jeffrey Mufson, Ayala Danzig, Livja Koka and Reena Kapoor
Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Online December 2020, 48 (4) 521-529; DOI: https://doi.org/10.29158/JAAPL.200004-20
Tobias D. Wasser
Dr. Wasser is Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, and Chief Medical Officer, Whiting Forensic Hospital, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, Middletown, Connecticut. Dr. Zhong is Lecturer in Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut and Adjunct Instructor, Department of Medical Education, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, Alabama. Dr. Mufson and Dr. Danzig are Psychiatry Residents, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut. Ms. Koka is Medical Student, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, Connecticut. Dr. Kapoor is Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, and Chief of Forensic Services, Whiting Forensic Hospital, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, Middletown, Connecticut.
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Rocksheng Zhong
Dr. Wasser is Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, and Chief Medical Officer, Whiting Forensic Hospital, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, Middletown, Connecticut. Dr. Zhong is Lecturer in Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut and Adjunct Instructor, Department of Medical Education, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, Alabama. Dr. Mufson and Dr. Danzig are Psychiatry Residents, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut. Ms. Koka is Medical Student, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, Connecticut. Dr. Kapoor is Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, and Chief of Forensic Services, Whiting Forensic Hospital, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, Middletown, Connecticut.
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Jeffrey Mufson
Dr. Wasser is Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, and Chief Medical Officer, Whiting Forensic Hospital, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, Middletown, Connecticut. Dr. Zhong is Lecturer in Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut and Adjunct Instructor, Department of Medical Education, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, Alabama. Dr. Mufson and Dr. Danzig are Psychiatry Residents, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut. Ms. Koka is Medical Student, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, Connecticut. Dr. Kapoor is Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, and Chief of Forensic Services, Whiting Forensic Hospital, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, Middletown, Connecticut.
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Ayala Danzig
Dr. Wasser is Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, and Chief Medical Officer, Whiting Forensic Hospital, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, Middletown, Connecticut. Dr. Zhong is Lecturer in Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut and Adjunct Instructor, Department of Medical Education, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, Alabama. Dr. Mufson and Dr. Danzig are Psychiatry Residents, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut. Ms. Koka is Medical Student, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, Connecticut. Dr. Kapoor is Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, and Chief of Forensic Services, Whiting Forensic Hospital, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, Middletown, Connecticut.
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Livja Koka
Dr. Wasser is Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, and Chief Medical Officer, Whiting Forensic Hospital, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, Middletown, Connecticut. Dr. Zhong is Lecturer in Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut and Adjunct Instructor, Department of Medical Education, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, Alabama. Dr. Mufson and Dr. Danzig are Psychiatry Residents, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut. Ms. Koka is Medical Student, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, Connecticut. Dr. Kapoor is Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, and Chief of Forensic Services, Whiting Forensic Hospital, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, Middletown, Connecticut.
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Reena Kapoor
Dr. Wasser is Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, and Chief Medical Officer, Whiting Forensic Hospital, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, Middletown, Connecticut. Dr. Zhong is Lecturer in Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut and Adjunct Instructor, Department of Medical Education, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, Alabama. Dr. Mufson and Dr. Danzig are Psychiatry Residents, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut. Ms. Koka is Medical Student, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, Connecticut. Dr. Kapoor is Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, and Chief of Forensic Services, Whiting Forensic Hospital, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, Middletown, Connecticut.
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    Table 1

    State/Forensic Hospital Facilities Video Game Policies and Practices

    StatesNotes
    Video games are not permittedAlabama
    Georgia
    Hawaii
    Idaho
    Mississippi
    New Mexico
    (n = 6/19; 32%)
    No video game policy, but video game use by patients is permittedAlaska
    Indiana
    Montana
    Ohio
    Oklahoma
    Oregon
    South Dakota
    Tennessee
    (n = 8/19; 42%)
    Alaska: Some games are available for use during certain times of the day. Games are reviewed by staff prior to use on unit. Games of a “graphic nature” are prohibited.
    Indiana, Oregon: Gaming systems are all offline (no Internet connection).
    Montana: Some patients have personal video game players. Gaming systems are all offline (no Internet connection).
    Ohio: Maximum-security facility has video games available in “honor room,” which is accessible to patients who demonstrate behavioral control. Gaming systems are offline (no Internet connection). Staff monitor video game use by patients. Hospital is currently investigating development of a policy focused on the use of games with violent content by patients.
    Oklahoma: Patients may use games with Internet connection. Video game use is monitored by staff.
    South Dakota: Access to games is limited, and selection of games is monitored by staff.
    Tennessee: Video game use is on computers and only without Internet access.
    Policy is in place governing video game use by patientsArizona
    California
    Minnesota
    Missouri
    Virginia
    (n = 5/19; 26%)
    Arizona: Use is monitored/managed by nursing staff.
    Missouri: Video game consoles are available for patient use under supervision and without Internet access. Video games cannot be used during treatment groups or milieu activities.
    Virginia: Each facility in the state can choose whether to allow access. Facilities that permit video game use only allow them to be used without Internet access.
    Facilities that permit video game use require staff supervision during video game use.
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Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Online: 48 (4)
Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Online
Vol. 48, Issue 4
1 Dec 2020
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Violent Video Games in Forensic Psychiatric Hospitals
Tobias D. Wasser, Rocksheng Zhong, Jeffrey Mufson, Ayala Danzig, Livja Koka, Reena Kapoor
Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Online Dec 2020, 48 (4) 521-529; DOI: 10.29158/JAAPL.200004-20

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Violent Video Games in Forensic Psychiatric Hospitals
Tobias D. Wasser, Rocksheng Zhong, Jeffrey Mufson, Ayala Danzig, Livja Koka, Reena Kapoor
Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Online Dec 2020, 48 (4) 521-529; DOI: 10.29158/JAAPL.200004-20
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