Avid gamers worldwide probably took a deep look into their own gaming habits when the World Health Organization made “gaming disorder” a mental health condition. It is not only the gamers who seem to have a problem with this new classification, psychologists aren’t at a consensus on the decision.
Many cite that playing video games is cathartic and provides relief from anxiety and depression. Despite rebuttals from the medical community gaming disorder is officially classified in the International Classification of Diseases (IDC).
People with this condition over-prioritize their daily activities around digital gaming (board games are not included in this classification). The importance and precedence given towards gaming negatively impact their social, family, educational and career relationships. Your child or someone you know could be at risk. This is deeper than a normal obsession with playing games. Here’s what we learned from the World Health Organization (WHO) about gaming disorder.
Three Diagnostic Features of Gaming Disorder Diagnosis
Playing video games take preference over daily activities to an excessive extent. Which could mean putting off
developing interpersonal relationships, abstaining from personal hygiene and other anti-social behaviors in deference to gaming?
The second feature of diagnosing gaming disorder is the impaired control of the behavior. The person with the condition could know the negative ramifications of their gaming behaviors and still engage in extreme levels of gaming. This pattern is marked by the excessive, persistent and recurrent behavior of gaming.
Lastly, the condition leads to significant impairments in family, educational, career and social relationships. Individuals suffering from this condition have often alienated themselves from their peers and close family members because of their behaviors.
This behavior has to last for at least 12 months. This condition can’t be determined by observing behavior for a few hours or days. And must be done by a trained professional according to the WHO
The characteristics of gaming disorder closely mimic the classifications of substance abuse disorders and gambling disorders. The power of a joystick and a screen is as powerful as some controlled substances according to the IDC.
Gaming disorder almost didn’t make it to the
pages of the industry-approved IDC. In 2013 it appeared in the DSM as a “condition for further study” The American Psychiatric Association called it “Internet Gaming Disorder”, but the decision drew ire from gamers who felt the inclusion in the DSM labeled their hobby as intrinsically harmful.
Psychologists also felt that the suggestion of comparing substance abuse to gaming was misleading as games don’t incite physical reactions like tolerance and withdrawal the way controlled substances do. The World Health Organization learned from its predecessors and included online and offline gaming activities in the diagnosis. This inclusion coupled with the aforementioned three diagnostic features got the condition approved for inclusion in June 2018.
Parents, if you feel your child might be suffering from gaming disorder please take them to a psychologist or mental health professional for further diagnosis. No need to ring the alarm just yet. Video games have been proven to also be great stress relievers and tools for education. The key is to instill balance and lessons in reality vs the video game world.
Daunte Henderson, founder of the MADEMAN Foundation, author, and educator based in Chicago. You can follow him at @brotherhenderson on IG
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