WHO to classify ‘gaming addiction’ as mental health disorder

elpitaya | 12/27/2017

As a medic this isn't news but I'll make a quick recap

The World Health Organization is likely to classify as “gaming addiction” an addictive behavior disorder, similar to gambling disorder, in its 2018 International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11), according to a beta draft posted on the ICD website.

It classifies it as:

“pattern of persistent or recurrent gaming behavior which may be online or offline.”

The description says that the addiction may manifest by impaired control over gaming onset, frequency, intensity, duration or context, increasing priority giving to gaming so much so that it takes precedence of over aspects of daily life, and continuing or escalating gameplay despite negative consequences.

That's likely to all mental illness, we all have a little of them inside, but when they AFFECT YOUR DAILY LIFE, then it's a problem.

These symptoms normally must appear over a period of 12 months for a diagnosis.

This does not mean that all involved in video game playing is a mental health disorder, but rather that excessive gaming over a period of time can lead to diagnosis and treatment.

Like everything in life.

The upcoming ICD, in its 11th update, will allow doctors and health care workers, (That's me!), to classify gaming addiction as a mental health condition.

This is not new, since the Internet Gaming Disorder was in the DSM - 5 since 2014 (Book of all psychiatric disorders)

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/here-there-and-everywhere/201407/internet-gaming-disorder-in-dsm-5

Well, what do you think?

Send PM

Replies • 215

Stebbo

Penguin tamer

Is gaming addiction a problem in our modern world?

Edit Quote Flag Delete Nuke Send

Kangaxx

Planetary

Nonsense.

Reading books, watching TV or playing football are also mental health disorders?

Anything can be a disorder if it is overdosed. Just be reasonable.

Edit Quote Flag Delete Nuke Send

Kelyrra

Planetary

"That's likely to all mental illness, we all have a little of them inside, but when they AFFECT YOUR DAILY LIFE, then it's a problem. " My psychology prof said something like that too. I'm happy that I'm just that kind of addicted that doesn't effect my daily life :D

Edit Quote Flag Delete Nuke Send

Lord_Ripper

Interstellar

So, we are all retarded;;; lol

Edit Quote Flag Delete Nuke Send

WX-395

RockNRolla

And how will they classify Facebook?

Edit Quote Flag Delete Nuke Send

Lord_Ripper

Interstellar

wx-395 said:
And how will they classify Facebook?

nice point to touch

Edit Quote Flag Delete Nuke Send

raficda

Interstellar

It's just a way to spend free time, not a disorder...

Edit Quote Flag Delete Nuke Send

elpitaya

The Doctor

Kangaxx said:
Nonsense.

Reading books, watching TV or playing football are also mental health disorders?

Anything can be a disorder if it is overdosed. Just be reasonable.

Exactly, that's why I just said "LIKE EVERYTHING IN LIFE"

Although, there are some things like washing your hands, that get obsessive compulsive people to lose their job, even their family.

My guess is that the term needs to be there. We medics already know the disease.

Edit Quote Flag Delete Nuke Send

elpitaya

The Doctor

Kelyrra said:
"That's likely to all mental illness, we all have a little of them inside, but when they AFFECT YOUR DAILY LIFE, then it's a problem. " My psychology prof said something like that too. I'm happy that I'm just that kind of addicted that doesn't effect my daily life :D

we have a winner!! you have the perfect concept of mental illness !