Almost 1,000 many of them teenage boys have been treated by the National Centre for Gaming Disorders.
Separate referrals are made for parents who are struggling to cope with their children's obsessions.
In the worst cases, kids spend every waking hour on consoles and become aggressive or even violent if parents or carers threaten to pull the plug.
Their physical health is affected because they do not sleep properly and are not doing any exercise.
Addicts are also said to struggle with managing their emotions and can suffer from anxiety and low mood.
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