A draft of the International Classification of Diseases manual includes a new definition for \u00ab\u00a0gaming disorder\u00a0\u00bb that is currently pending approval.<\/b>
\nA draft of the International Classification of Diseases manual includes a new definition for \u201cgaming disorder\u201d that is currently pending approval.
Games like Fortnite are more popular than ever, but they may also have renewed fears that games are damaging young minds. This time, concerns go all the way to the World Health Organization. The WHO has included gaming disorder as a possible addictive behaviour in the latest International Classification of Diseases manual, a draft expected to be approved within a year.
For this draft, the manual lists two kinds of possible gaming disorders. The first is a standard gaming addiction described in the following terms:
Gaming disorder is characterized by a pattern of persistent or recurrent gaming behaviour (\u2018digital gaming\u2019 or \u2018video-gaming\u2019), 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. 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.
The second disorder is \u201chazardous gaming\u201d, which is distinct in that someone suffering from it plays games to the point of literal physical harm:
Hazardous gaming 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.
To be clear, the medical community isn\u2019t exactly rushing in to take everyone\u2019s video games away. \u201cVery large numbers of people play games on- and off-line,\u201d the Department of Health & Social Care told Eurogamer . \u201cFor the vast majority it is a recreational activity. But research shows that for a small number their gaming can become harmful, or an addiction. We welcome the inclusion of gaming disorder in ICD-11, which will over time help to understand the true prevalence of harmful gaming.\u201d
It\u2019s also worth mentioning that even with this definition, diagnosis standards are quite high. In most cases, all symptoms \u2013 including detrimental effects on one\u2019s personal life \u2013 must be observed over a span of 12 months. While there are exceptions for extreme cases, the World Health Organization seems generally cautious here.
And yet, that hasn\u2019t spotted the larger game industry from coming forward iThis statement was signed by UKIE, the ESA, the EGDF, and many more.
\u201cVideo games 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 recognised. We are therefore concerned to see \u2018gaming disorder\u2019 still contained in the latest version of the WHO\u2019s ICD-11 despite significant opposition from the medical and scientific community. The evidence for its inclusion remains highly contested and inconclusive.
\u201cWe hope that the WHO will reconsider the mounting evidence put before them before proposing inclusion of \u2018gaming disorder\u2019 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.\u201d
One thing is clear: The ICD-11 update is arriving one way or another. The manual\u2019s last revision occurred way back in 1992, and it desperately needs fixes to benefit today\u2019s medical professionals. The question is whether the games industry can provide enough current research to counter the gaming disorder definition before the manual is approved sometime next year.<\/p>\n

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