The world of online gaming is a growing phenomenon with millions of young men and women around the globe logging on to join in role-play games which allow them to interact with other players.

A study of 7,000 online computer gamers has revealed that one in nine were displaying at least three signs of addiction.

The subjects, mostly male and with an average age of 21, were asked to fill out two questionnaires.

The addictive signs they displayed were modelled on the symptoms of dependence syndrome outlined by the World Health Organisation.

They included craving, withdrawal symptoms, loss of control and neglect of other activities.

The results will prove alarming for parents, whose children spend hours on the computer.

One fantasy game in which players populate a virtual mystical world of dragons and wizards has even been dubbed EverCrack, in a reference to the drug, instead of EverQuest, because of its addictive quality.

It has been cited in marriage break-ups, child-neglect cases and even an obsessive player's suicide.

An EverQuest Widows support group has been set up for people who have lost partners through the game.

It follows fears about the consequences of online gambling, as well as studies showing the addictive quality of both the internet and stand alone computer games.

The study is the work of Professor Mark Griffths, director of the International Gaming Research Unit at Nottingham Trent University and is to form a talk as part of the British Science Museum's "Game On" lecture series.

"Addicted" gamers were compared to the remaining players and it was found that they played for much longer periods and were "significantly" more likely to report withdrawal symptoms and craving.

Last night Prof Griffiths said it was a largely adult phenomenon because most online gaming sites require a credit card subscription, the average age of an online gamer is 29 to 30.

However he did find that some teenagers were playing, after parents subscribed to the sites.

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