WHO classifies excessive gaming as mental health disorder

There are numerous people around the world who are fond of gaming and obsessed to this hobby. Well, this gaming addiction is now being called as a mental health disorder by the World Health Organization (WHO).

WHO has decided to add a new name to its list of mental health conditions under the section of ‘disorder due to addictive behaviors’. From 2018, people who play excessive amount of video games will be diagnosed with a ‘gaming disorder’.

The upcoming 11th update of WHO’s International Classification of Diseases (ICD) defines gaming disorder as a condition of persistent or recurrent gaming behavior be it digital gaming or video gaming, which may be online or offline. The conditions are marked as an impaired control over gaming (onset, frequency, intensity, duration, termination, context); increasing priority given to gaming to the level where gaming takes superiority over other life interests and daily activities; and lastly, continuation or escalation of gaming despite the occurrence of negative consequences, reported Deccan Chronicle.

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However, not every person who plays video games will be diagnosed with the disease. The condition depends upon the game and how long and how often a person plays it. Video games can also be a way to enhance hand-eye coordination, improve problem-solving abilities, connect people and relieve stress. The gaming condition only will be characterized as a disorder when it causes impairment in personal, social, educational, occupational or other important areas of functioning.

Moreover, to characterize the disorder, excessive behavior is a must to be evident for a continuous, episodic and recurrent time period of at least a year. However, the duration can be shortened up if all the diagnostic requirements are met and the symptoms are much severe, as per US News.