The World Health Organization (founded by the United Nations in 1946) will label gaming addiction a mental disorder officially by 2018.
ICD-11 (the addiction’s latest revision) can be read here, and we found that gaming addiction is labeled under „Mental, behavioral or neurodevelopmental disorders/Impulse control disorders.” We’re not going to quote their description (it’d be a little tough between holiday meals!), but there is already reSTART in Seattle, Washington, which is meant to treat the addiction.
The American Psychological Association has an opposing opinion. Quoting them, „little clarity has been achieved regarding diagnostic criteria and appropriate symptoms. It is unclear if symptoms that involve problematic video gaming behavior should be reified as a new disorder, or are the expression of underlying mental conditions.”
We’d rather not take a stance aside from saying „within bounds!” Of course, the loot boxes and their gambling addiction could be another different story altogether…
Source: WCCFTech
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