World Health Organization Video Games is officially a Mental Disorder

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https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/video-game-addiction-officially-considered-141236486.html



Think your kid is addicted to video games? There could be something to it.


The condition is included in the global medical guide within a section detailing disorders due to substance use or addictive behaviors, along with "Gambling disorder."

"Risk of abuse of a formalized new disorder that solely involves the behavior of playing video games – a stigmatized entertainment activity – can only expand the false-positive issues in psychiatry," the researchers wrote. One of the researchers, Chris Ferguson, a psychologist and media researcher at Stetson University in DeLand, Florida, resurfaced the paper on Twitter after the organization's action. "This expansion will likely have a psychological and societal cost, potentially harming the well-being of our children."

"Risk of abuse of a formalized new disorder that solely involves the behavior of playing video games – a stigmatized entertainment activity – can only expand the false-positive issues in psychiatry," the researchers wrote. One of the researchers, Chris Ferguson, a psychologist and media researcher at Stetson University in DeLand, Florida, resurfaced the paper on Twitter after the organization's action. "This expansion will likely have a psychological and societal cost, potentially harming the well-being of our children."

Citing similar concerns, video game groups – including the Entertainment Software Association and UK Interactive Association – asked the WHO to "rethink their decision." The WHO "is an esteemed organization and its guidance needs to be based on regular, inclusive, and transparent reviews backed by independent experts," their statement said. " ‘Gaming disorder’ is not based on sufficiently robust evidence to justify its inclusion in one of the WHO’s most important norm-setting tools.”

A small minority of gamers may develop the problem, but the disorder's classification could lead to early warning signs that prevent addiction, he said.

"This is an occasional or transitory behavior," Saxena told Reuters, noting that people must exhibit the behavior for at least one year to meet the diagnosis.

Follow USA TODAY reporter Mike Snider on Twitter: @MikeSnider.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Video game addiction is officially considered a mental disorder, WHO says
 
They should call it the World of Warcrack disorder.

I completely agree with WHO on this though. These companies have pumped millions into research to learn how to make their games more addicting and they are every bit as addictive as casinos and gambling halls. Even more so in many cases, especially if you consider these games are targeted primarily at teenagers and young adults.
 
KarsusTG said:
They should call it the World of Warcrack disorder.

I completely agree with WHO on this though. These companies have pumped millions into research to learn how to make their games more addicting and they are every bit as addictive as casinos and gambling halls. Even more so in many cases, especially if you consider these games are targeted primarily at teenagers and young adults.
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I lean both ways on this. I would say that the same people that are prone to video game addiction (task/goal completion) are also the same types that would also be extremely successful CEO/Management people. They are hand-in-hand, and it's simply a different medium for the same exact persona
 
Haven't i Seen this before, you have to peep and shit your pants while playing games for it to be a mental disorder. Dam people never herd of a shit bucket.
 
Anything in over abundance is an addiction. It’s about moderation. I’m not a big gamer. I have a few games that i play and i don’t wait in feverish anticipation of anything. I typically just browse the bargain bins and look for something interesting that is deeply discounted. That being said, there is no difference in playing video games or watching tv. At least with video games you are using your brain.
All of these studies about video games, but they won’t tackle the issue of people being diehard sports fans. I think that is a mental disorder. People thinking they are a part of the team and that they have any effect on the outcome of a game they are not playing in. Those people are the crazy ones.
 
Hmm.. I've worked for almost 20 hours straight quite a few times, to the point where I struggled to feed myself, and sleep. It affected other aspects of my life. They should make up an imaginary mental illness for that too.
 
I think there is something to this, but that is based on my experiences and what I have seen, not medical expertise.
I get companies are working on making their games as addictive as possible, but I would actually say that this is a direct result of the rise of "Online Games" with persistent worlds, which have existed for a long time.
The problem, as I see it, is that in the "Online Games", things are still going on even when you are not online. So you are potentially missing out on something, and other people are getting ahead of you, when you are not playing.
In Super Mario/<insert single player only game here>, I may have a strong desire to try to beat a level, or achieve something, but I can reach a certain point, save my game, and move on to something else and not feel like not playing could actually be detrimental. While I am not playing, I don't have to worry about missing out on an event or feel the need to be playing to "level up" something. Maybe it is just me, but I find these games much easier to pick up and then put back down, to come back to later when I want, and likely abandon once I complete the game.
 
Video games give you that sense of success that cookie of reward whenever you get the item or achieve the goal. Especially if it was moderately challenging.

I used to game for the challenge. But lately honestly if a game is just too hard for my idle mind to swallow unless the story is REALLY good I don't bother. I throw on a cheat and play the game to get what I want out of it. It's more fun to succeed or play the game how I want to play it than to beat my head against the wall for hours on end.
 
VoloxitySF said:
Hmm.. I've worked for almost 20 hours straight quite a few times, to the point where I struggled to feed myself, and sleep. It affected other aspects of my life. They should make up an imaginary mental illness for that too.
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That would actually be Workaholism/Work Addiction, which is recognized as a psychological disorder. I would agree that it isn't really publicized or discussed as much. This is likely due to many seeing doing work as being productive, while playing games is not being productive. Most people would just pass it off as having a "good work ethic".
 
WHO lol. Wanting to play a lot of mentally stimulating video games is a mental disorder yet wanting to chop off your penis has just been ruled as not having a mental disorder. Ya, OK.
 
People should really just copy the original headline. This one is just wrong.


The original makes much more sense:

"Video game addiction is officially considered a mental disorder, WHO says"

Addictions are a problem, video games are not.
 
Snowdog said:
People should really just copy the original headline. This one is just wrong.


The original makes much more sense:

"Video game addiction is officially considered a mental disorder, WHO says"

Addictions are a problem, video games are not.
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Isn't that the same defense that Cigarette companies used? <-- Playing Devils advocate.
 
Grimlaking said:
Isn't that the same defense that Cigarette companies used? <-- Playing Devils advocate.
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I am only commenting that the problem with video games only pertains to the Addicted, which is the critical element that was left out of the headline.

Non addictive play of video games have demonstrated benefits in several studies.

No amount of cigarettes is beneficial.
 
Snowdog said:
I am only commenting that the problem with video games only pertains to the Addicted, which is the critical element that was left out of the headline.

Non addictive play of video games have demonstrated benefits in several studies.

No amount of cigarettes is beneficial.
Click to expand...

Right I agree. But go back and watch the movie Thank you for Smoking. (good movie btw)

There was a time that cigarette companies would have us believe that smoking would have us believe smoking had health benefits.
 
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