Gaming Addiction Disorder Included in New International Classification of Diseases

Posted on June 20, 2018

The World Health Organization (WHO) has included gaming disorder as a disease in the latest International Classification of Diseases. Gaming disorder was included in ICD-11, which was released on June 18, 2018. The ICD is the international standard for reporting diseases and health conditions.

Gaming disorder is a serious addiction to gaming. It is as a pattern of addictive gaming behavior. WHO says gaming disorder is "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."

The WHO says studies show that gaming disorder affects only a small portion of gamers. The organization says people who develop the disorder need relevant prevention and treatment programs.

The WHO also warns gamers to be aware of the disorder: "However, people who partake in gaming should be alert to the amount of time they spend on gaming activities, particularly when it is to the exclusion of other daily activities, as well as to any changes in their physical or psychological health and social functioning that could be attributed to their pattern of gaming behaviour."

Here is a video Q&A about gaming disorder from the WHO. Take a look:

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