The World Health Organisation (WHO) is set to label video game addition as a mental health condition in 2018.
Classified as a ‘gaming disorder', the condition is now listed in soon-to-be-released version of the company's 11th International Classification of Diseases.
How do you know if you're suffering from video game addiction?
In the document, WHO has provided a description on how to identify video game addiction.
“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, 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 new classification means that video game addiction will be a diagnosable disorder. According to PsychGuides, “6 to 15 percent all gamers exhibit signs that could be characterized as addiction.” Though WHO won't be offering any guidance on how to cure or treats gamers suffering with the mental health disorder, there are various specialist treatment centres, including UKAT, who use therapy rather than drug treatment to help treat the condition.
According to UKAT, they claim that experts say that some of the most addictive video games include:
- World of Warcraft
- Battlefield
- Farmville
- Call of Duty
- Minecraft
- Angry Birds
- Solitaire
If you feel you need help, reach out to your GP, or search online for further advice.