Home Gaming The World Health Organisation lists gaming addiction as a mental disorder

The World Health Organisation lists gaming addiction as a mental disorder

3 min read
32

Dota2

Since last year, the World Health Organisation has tried to pin down video gaming that has a net negative impact on life as a disorder – but it was originally a bit wishy-washy in what it classed as a disorder. In its new draft on the International Classification of Diseases manual released yesterday, the WHO has now classified excessive compulsive gaming as a disorder.

It defines the disorder as being “characterized by a pattern of persistent or recurrent gaming behaviour (‘digital gaming’ or ‘video-gaming’), which may be online (i.e., over the internet) or offline, manifested by: 1) impaired control over gaming (e.g., onset, frequency, intensity, duration, termination, context); 2) increasing priority given to gaming to the extent that gaming takes precedence over other life interests and daily activities; and 3) continuation or escalation of gaming despite the occurrence of negative consequences.”

Effectively, it’s only a problem if it’s severely and negatively affecting your life – if you’re neglecting responsibilities to play videogames, for example. The draft also outline show to diagnose such a disorder, saying that it has be evident over at least a year:

“The behaviour pattern is of sufficient severity to result in significant impairment in personal, family, social, educational, occupational or other important areas of functioning. The pattern of gaming behaviour may be continuous or episodic and recurrent. The gaming behaviour and other features are normally evident over a period of at least 12 months in order for a diagnosis to be assigned, although the required duration may be shortened if all diagnostic requirements are met and symptoms are severe.”

It means you’re unlikely to claim any disability benefits because you game a lot, because you’re all a balanced lot who play games in a healthy way.

The WHO also classifies something it calls “hazardous gaming,” which they say “refers to a pattern of gaming, either online or offline that appreciably increases the risk of harmful physical or mental health consequences to the individual or to others around this individual. The increased risk may be from the frequency of gaming, from the amount of time spent on these activities, from the neglect of other activities and priorities, from risky behaviours associated with gaming or its context, from the adverse consequences of gaming, or from the combination of these. The pattern of gaming is often persists in spite of awareness of increased risk of harm to the individual or to others.”

This doesn’t mean that medical professionals are planning to take your games away or restrict their use through law. The number of people this might affect would be a very small percentage of people who play games. Of course, gaming industry spokespeople aren’t happy about this draft, which if passed, would come into effect in May 2019.

In a co-signed statement, the ESA, ESAC, EGDF, IESA, IGEA, ISFE, K-GAMES, and UBV&G, said:

“Videogames across all kinds of genres, devices and platforms are enjoyed safely and sensibly by more than 2 billion people worldwide, with the educational, therapeutic, and recreational value of games being well-founded and widely recognized. We are therefore concerned to see ‘gaming disorder’ still contained in the latest version of the WHO’s ICD-11 despite significant opposition from the medical and scientific community. The evidence for its inclusion remains highly contested and inconclusive.

“We hope that the WHO will reconsider the mounting evidence put before them before proposing inclusion of ‘gaming disorder’ in the final version of ICD-11 to be endorsed next year. We understand that our industry and supporters around the world will continue raising their voices in opposition to this move and urge the WHO to avoid taking steps that would have unjustified implications for national health systems across the world.”

Whatever happens, if you find yourself with an unhealthy imbalance, maybe take some time to step away from the screen for a bit.

Last Updated: June 19, 2018

32 Comments

  1. Mark Treloar

    June 19, 2018 at 08:46

    Might as well just declare breathing a metal disorder then

    Reply

  2. Richard | Beetle001

    June 19, 2018 at 08:23

    This classification is meaningless. Any activity that is engaged in enough to make you neglect your ‘life responsibilities’ can be classified as a ‘disorder’. Would be interested to know what else is on this list.

    Reply

  3. Captain JJ

    June 19, 2018 at 08:24

    It’s not unlike any other addiction, and some people just are more susceptible than others.
    But if they’re classifying this as a disorder but not people who spend the same amount of time watching tv or doing whatever else, with the same negative results on their personal lives, then it’s clearly just another run at the booming gaming industry and holds no actual weight.

    Reply

    • Kromas

      June 19, 2018 at 10:31

      I have heard of people playing games to the point of starving their kids to death because of neglect. I have not really heard that about TV that much. The thing about gaming or any other addiction vs TV is that TV is primarily a passive experience whereas most addiction have an active component. Not saying TV isn’t just as bad but I can see gaming as being an easy substitute for addicts in recovery who don’t see it as a “problem”.

      Remember the substance or activity was never the problem. The disease of addiction was.

      Reply

      • Captain JJ

        June 19, 2018 at 12:34

        Plenty of cases where the same happens with TV. Difference is those are usually heavily obese people and their “disorder” is written off due to their obesity, not the fact that they don’t get away from behind the tv. With gaming there’s a solid, defined line, which makes it easier to classify…and rightly so.

        But like I said in my original message, there are many other beside tv. It’s just an easy example.

        Reply

  4. Mark Treloar

    June 19, 2018 at 08:46

    Might as well just declare breathing a metal disorder then

    Reply

    • Brian

      June 19, 2018 at 09:25

      No we might as well not.

      You can binge all you want if you don’t meet the criteria, which are:

      a pattern of gaming behavior (“digital-gaming” or “video-gaming”) characterized by

      impaired control over gaming,
      increasing priority given to gaming over other activities to the extent that gaming takes precedence over other interests and daily activities,
      and continuation or escalation of gaming despite the occurrence of negative consequences.

      Reading through the conditions makes it clear that someone’s life is very unstable if they have this disorder, so this was actually pretty thought out.

      Reply

      • Mark Treloar

        June 19, 2018 at 09:36

        Organised sport then

        Reply

  5. BakedBagel

    June 19, 2018 at 08:50

    12 hour Netflix binges. A-Okay Not a disorder
    Rioting in the streets because SPORTS. Not a disorder
    Waiting 24hr in line for a phone. Not a disorder

    Wew gaming tho. These kids and their addictions

    Reply

    • Geoffrey Tim

      June 19, 2018 at 09:14

      If you binged netflix 12 hours a day for over a year to the point where it impacted your general life, it would be a disorder too. Playing games for 12 hours a day isn’t a disorder; by the definition if you do it so much that you do nothing else, it’s a disorder. It has to negatively affect “personal, family, social, educational, occupational or other important areas of functioning.”

      Reply

      • BakedBagel

        June 19, 2018 at 09:29

        People are and have been binge watching series/TV LONG before netflix.
        To the point where it disrupts their life, you just dont see it being a “disorder”

        Disorder is not addiction.
        A disorder is often defined as a sickness, thats an issue

        Reply

  6. Original Heretic

    June 19, 2018 at 08:54

    I’d rather label it as “common sense”. Because ANYTHING taken to an extreme is bad for you. Balance is crucial in life. Focus too much on one area and other things suffer for it.

    Reply

    • Kromas

      June 19, 2018 at 10:32

      Not about extreme. Gaming is perfectly fine just like drinking etc etc. However if you are an addict it can be a little more complicated.

      Reply

      • Original Heretic

        June 19, 2018 at 10:34

        Yes, gaming is perfectly fine. In moderation. Drinking is perfectly fine. In moderation.
        Extremes behaviour, with anything, is bad.

        Reply

        • Kromas

          June 19, 2018 at 10:36

          Extreme behaviors have consequences. Addiction is about consistency in said extreme behaviors. It is a massive difference that most people will never understand. In fact I am happy that people will never understand.

          Reply

          • Original Heretic

            June 19, 2018 at 10:38

            Dude, you’re contradicting yourself a bit here.
            Addiction is GOING to have consequences. No matter what the addiction is.
            But, whatever, I’m not here to convince anyone of anything.

          • Kromas

            June 19, 2018 at 10:46

            No I am not. Addicts constantly do their thing of choice DESPITE knowing the consequences. We can’t stop. We are UNSABLE to. To the POINT WERE WE EITHER END UP IN JAILS INSTITUTIONS OR DEATH!~!~~

            Only addicts understand this. And it pisses me off when fucknuts think they know better.

            Jesus christ stop this shit now.

          • Kromas

            June 19, 2018 at 10:46

            No I am not. Addicts constantly do their thing of choice DESPITE knowing the consequences. Addiction is a very serious issue and causes pain not just for the addict but for many of those around them as well.

            Please try to be more informed as sometimes comments can hurt a hell of a lot when it is extremely ignorant.

            This was edited down as it was a bit of an outburst and for that I apologize but still.

          • Original Heretic

            June 19, 2018 at 10:47

          • Gr8_Balls_o_Fire

            June 19, 2018 at 10:53

            You ok bro? I’m struggling to follow this conversation. I’m a bit high right now.

          • Kromas

            June 19, 2018 at 10:58

            Comments just got under my skin. This topic is the one thing that triggers me a bit. 🙂

          • Gr8_Balls_o_Fire

            June 19, 2018 at 13:13

            It’s a touchy topic, but I do believe that a small percentage (who knows?) of the population are prone to destructive gaming behaviour. But like anything at all, participation requires some education first.

            This may lead to good things. Like no more fucking brats playing online shooters when they’re 10 years under the restricted age limit.

  7. Craig "CrAiGiSh" Dodd

    June 19, 2018 at 09:00

    2018 … the year the gaming revolt began … remember this day lads.

    Reply

  8. Skittle

    June 19, 2018 at 10:14

    Look at this comment section, such denial, typical addict behaviour.

    The first step is to acknowledge your problem.

    Reply

    • Kromas

      June 19, 2018 at 10:25

      Actually Step 1 is “We admitted that we were powerless over our addiction and that our lives had become unmanageable.”

      Reply

    • th3SiCn3ss

      June 19, 2018 at 14:13

      lol, screw that I’m freaking bat shit….

      Reply

  9. Magoo

    June 19, 2018 at 10:50

    I wonder how many esports superstars started out with a gaming disorder.

    Reply

    • Gr8_Balls_o_Fire

      June 19, 2018 at 10:51

      hahahaha

      Reply

  10. Gr8_Balls_o_Fire

    June 19, 2018 at 10:52

    This article, just after the release of Jurassic World Evolution.

    Reply

  11. Viper_ZA

    June 19, 2018 at 12:49

    Everything in moderation, that is what LIFE is about.

    Reply

  12. Frans J Smit

    June 19, 2018 at 16:52

    So I can stay home, play games and claim disability now?

    Reply

    • Gr8_Balls_o_Fire

      June 19, 2018 at 18:17

      ^This right here. Is why. We need this man as president.

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Check Also

Manchester United Sues Football Manager Over Use of their Name and Fan Mods

Manchester United, that massive global football brand whose fans are as equally annoying a…