Video Game Addiction

                                                                                                            Date: October/28/2018

  

Video gaming addiction to be recognized by WHO as a mental health disorder (https://technology.inquirer.net)

 Are you the kind of person who spends the whole day playing video games, non-stop? If you are, then you might want to ask yourself if you’re alright, as the World Health Organization (WHO) will already be recognizing gaming addiction as a mental health disorder.

The disorder is set to be included in the WHO’s International Classification of Diseases new edition, set for release this year, 2018. A draft has been outlined to set the criteria for whether or not one is addicted to video games, according to a report by New Scientist.

“Most people who play video games don’t have a disorder, just like most people who drink alcohol don’t have a disorder either. However, in certain circumstances overuse can lead to adverse effects.” WHO department of mental health and substance abuse member Vladimir Poznyak told New Scientist.

Based on the draft, it said that gaming disorder “is 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.”

It also explained that the addiction may impair “personal, family, social, educational, occupational or other important areas of functioning.”

However, not everyone was pleased with the news. The Entertainment Software Association released a statement urging the WHO to reverse its decision.

It also explained that the addiction may impair “personal, family, social, educational, occupational or other important areas of functioning.”

However, not everyone was pleased with the news. The Entertainment Software Association released a statement urging the WHO to reverse its decision.

WHO: Gaming addiction now a mental health disorder (https://www.yugatech.com/news)

The global body has mentioned that adding it to the list of officially recognized sickness “serve a public health purpose for countries to be better prepared to identify this issue.” WHO classifies gaming addiction as ”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.”

They also cite the initial criteria for assessing such illness. “For gaming disorder to be diagnosed, the behavior pattern must be of sufficient severity to result in significant impairment in personal, family, social, educational, occupational or other important areas of functioning and would normally have been evident for at least 12 months.”

When will it be implemented?

Gaming addiction as an illness will be included in the body’s International Classification of Disease (ICD-11) set to be in effect after the implementing rules have been finalized. The ICD is a general global set of coding guidelines that aims to further enhance guidelines on current and upcoming illnesses. This, in effect, would escalate these issues to a global scale and prompt governments to provide the necessary treatment for those who need it. The new ICD follows the one released way back in 2000 and is set to be finalized this year.

There are around 29.9 Million active gamers in the Philippines according to a 2017 study with 38% of them being cross-platform gamers. Revenues from gaming peaked at Php354 Million according to the same report.

Gaming addiction classified as disorder by WHO (https://www.bbc.com)

Its 11th International Classification of Diseases (ICD) will include the condition "gaming disorder".

The draft document describes it as a pattern of persistent or recurrent gaming behaviour so severe that it takes "precedence over other life interests".

Some countries had already identified it as a major public health issue.

Many, including the UK, have private addiction clinics to "treat" the condition.

The last version of the ICD was completed in 1992, with the new guide due to be published in 2018.

The guide contains codes for diseases, signs and symptoms and is used by doctors and researchers to track and diagnose disease.

It will suggest that abnormal gaming behaviour should be in evidence over a period of at least 12 months "for a diagnosis to be assigned" but added that period might be shortened "if symptoms are severe".

       Even children are at risk of video game addiction. (https://www.verywellmind.com)

What is Video Game Addiction?

Video game addiction is compulsive or uncontrolled use of video games, in a way that causes problems in other areas of the person's life.

Often considered a form of computer addiction or internet addiction, video game addiction has been an increasing concern for parents, as video games have become more commonplace, and are often targeted at children. Video games include computer games, console games, arcade machine games, and even cell phone, PDA, and advanced calculator games. Games can be embedded in social networking site, such as Facebook. Since the 1950s, gaming has grown into a multi-billion dollar industry. Some people are concerned about the long-term effects of video game playing, particularly on children.

Concerns center on the following questions:

• “Are video games harmful?”
• “Do violent video games cause aggression?”
• “Are video games addictive?”

While research is inconclusive, there does appear to be evidence that video games can be harmful, can increase aggression, and can be addictive. However, these effects are highly individual, and may involve many more factors than simply the amount of time spent playing games.

Gaming addiction: Does treatment work? (https://www.abc.net.au)

n June, the World Health Organisation (WHO) included gaming addiction on a list of diagnosable conditions.

But still — the controversy persists.

No matter the debate, the WHO decision appears to have led to a rise in people seeking help and in new treatment programs.

So what do we know about how to treat problem gaming?

Last week we heard about a new residential "detox" program in Thailand designed to help young adult male gaming addicts.

It's promoted by Canadian "reformed game addict" turned entrepreneur Cam Adair, whose organisation Game Quitters is "dedicated to helping game addicts the world over" and purportedly has over 50,000 members.

Child and adolescent psychiatrist Huu Kim Le, who helps advise Game Quitters, sees patients for gaming disorder at a public hospital in Adelaide.

He's seen an increase in visits from parents concerned about their child's gaming behaviour since the WHO decision.