A hospital in the city of Castellón, located in eastern Spain, shared information about a case that should alert all users of the online video game Fornite.

For many years, there has been a discussion about healthy limits that should be imposed when establishing times and spaces to have fun with console or Internet games, and there has been talk of a possible addiction to these digital universes. However, a new case from the hospital is the first time that a clinical case has been officially reported by a medical institution. At its center is a young Fortnite addict, which becomes a wake-up call to fans of the virtual platform developed by Epic Games.

The minor was hospitalized for two months, entering the hospital with a behavioral disorder, which led him to isolate himself at his home and reject all kinds of social interaction.

According to his relatives, the young man used to have excellent academic performance, but it's all changed as now he struggles to attend.

The specialists were forced to confine the young man to the hospital after presenting symptoms of serious behavioral addiction to Fortnite, which included isolation at home, rejection of social interactions and any medical intervention, persistent personal inflexibility and restrictive activities. Likewise, the reduction in his daily performance and alteration of his sleep rhythm forced the medical team to confine him.

The therapy the minor received included his family environment, especially through dynamics that significantly reduced the use of screens and strengthened his personal and social functioning.

The specialists who dealt with the case warned about the need for parents to be attentive to those applications and video games with which their children interact through computers and mobile devices, especially since minors are still in the process of maturing their executive and cognitive functions.

It is essential to understand that video games, in addition to providing entertainment, should not be an obstacle to the well-being of their users. Its disproportionate and inappropriate use can seriously affect the health and personal relationships of people with signs of behavioral addiction.