Gaming addiction disorders
The World Health Organization officially recognized gaming addiction as a mental health disorder after consulting experts from around the world. The team at the National Rehabilitation Center in Abu Dhabi had the honor of contributing to this global consultation as a collaborating center prior to the publication of the classification in 2022.
So, what do we know about gaming and video game addiction?
• The condition is classified as a disorder in the International Classification of Diseases 11th Revision, where it is referred to as “Gaming Disorder,” without limiting it to internet use, unlike the terminology used in the American classification.
• In contrast, the American Psychiatric Association does not yet recognize it as a formal diagnosis. Instead, it uses the term “Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD)” and considers it a condition that requires further clinical research.
Despite this, its inclusion as a condition for further study represents significant progress compared to earlier classifications where it was not addressed at all.
Gaming disorder is characterized by a persistent or recurrent pattern of behavior, which may present as:
1. Gaming predominantly online
2. Gaming predominantly offline
According to the World Health Organization, a diagnosis is made when the following criteria are met:
1. Impaired control over gaming (such as onset, frequency, intensity, duration, stopping, and context of play).
2. Increasing priority given to gaming, to the extent that it takes precedence over other life interests and daily activities.
3. Continuation or escalation of gaming behavior despite negative consequences.
This pattern must be severe enough to cause significant impairment in personal, family, social, educational, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. It may be continuous or episodic and recurring.
Typically, the behavior and associated features must be evident for at least 12 months for a diagnosis to be made, although this duration may be shortened if all criteria are clearly met and symptoms are severe, as outlined in ICD-11.
It is important to note that this diagnosis does not include online gambling, general internet use for work or entertainment, or engagement with sexual or pornographic online content.
Gaming addiction disorders
The World Health Organization officially recognized gaming addiction as a mental health disorder after consulting experts from around the world. The team at the National Rehabilitation Center in Abu Dhabi had the honor of contributing to this global consultation as a collaborating center prior to the publication of the classification in 2022.
So, what do we know about gaming and video game addiction?
• The condition is classified as a disorder in the International Classification of Diseases 11th Revision, where it is referred to as “Gaming Disorder,” without limiting it to internet use, unlike the terminology used in the American classification.
• In contrast, the American Psychiatric Association does not yet recognize it as a formal diagnosis. Instead, it uses the term “Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD)” and considers it a condition that requires further clinical research.
Despite this, its inclusion as a condition for further study represents significant progress compared to earlier classifications where it was not addressed at all.
Gaming disorder is characterized by a persistent or recurrent pattern of behavior, which may present as:
1. Gaming predominantly online
2. Gaming predominantly offline
According to the World Health Organization, a diagnosis is made when the following criteria are met:
1. Impaired control over gaming (such as onset, frequency, intensity, duration, stopping, and context of play).
2. Increasing priority given to gaming, to the extent that it takes precedence over other life interests and daily activities.
3. Continuation or escalation of gaming behavior despite negative consequences.
This pattern must be severe enough to cause significant impairment in personal, family, social, educational, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. It may be continuous or episodic and recurring.
Typically, the behavior and associated features must be evident for at least 12 months for a diagnosis to be made, although this duration may be shortened if all criteria are clearly met and symptoms are severe, as outlined in ICD-11.
It is important to note that this diagnosis does not include online gambling, general internet use for work or entertainment, or engagement with sexual or pornographic online content.
Diagnostic criteria
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:
- Impaired control over gaming (e.g., onset, frequency, intensity, duration, termination, context).
- Increasing priority given to gaming to the extent that gaming takes precedence over other life interests and daily activities.
- Continuation or escalation of gaming despite the occurrence of negative consequences.
The pattern of gaming behaviour may be continuous or episodic and recurrent. The pattern of gaming behaviour results in marked distress or significant impairment in personal, family, social, educational, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
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.
Reference
ICD-11 for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics (2020): The World health organization. https://icd.who.int/browse11/lm/en#/http%3a%2f%2fid.who.int%2ficd%2fentity%2f1448597234