The World Health Organization (WHO) announced gaming disorder or addiction to play games as a mental illness included in the 11th edition of the International Disease Classification released on Monday (18/6). Even so, not all psychologists agree addicted to playing games worthy of inclusion in the International Classification of Diseases, known as the ICD.
"I did not create a precedent," said a member of WHO's Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, dr Vladimir Poznyak, who submitted a new diagnosis to the WHO decision-making body.
According to Poznyak there are three characteristics of gaming disorder. The first is always to play games instead of other activities. Second, it is difficult to control and control the time to play the game.
"For the third characteristic, where the condition leads to significant disruption and impairment in personal, family, social, educational or occupational functions, the impact is real, and may include disturbed sleep patterns, such as dietary problems, such as deficiencies in physical activity," explains Poznyak as quoted by CNN Health, Tuesday (19/6).
Overall, Poznyak said, these characteristics are very similar to the diagnostic characteristics of substance use and gambling disorders. Gambling disorders are another category of clinical conditions unrelated to the use of psychoactive substances but are at the same time considered addictions.
Poznyak notes that the ICD does not make 'prescriptions' in terms of insurance coverage or health service development, this decision is made by national authorities. But prevention and treatment interventions can help people to alleviate the suffering of gamers.
Whatever the therapy, Poznyak says, it should be based on understanding the nature of the behavior and what can be done to improve the situation. Prevention interventions may also be needed.
Ultimately, WHO hopes that inclusion of game disruptions in classification will stimulate debate as well as further research and international collaboration.
Meanwhile, a licensed psychologist and executive director at The Telos Project, a nonprofit mental health clinic in Fort Worth, Texas, Anthony Bean considers himself a member of the camp against the intrusion of game play on the ICD. According to him, it is still too early to be called a diagnosis.
"It's a bit premature, I'm a doctor and a researcher, so I see people playing video games in their experience, they actually use more games as a coping mechanism for anxiety or depression," Bean said.
Bean also judged, the criteria used by WHO to define gaming disorder into ICD, is too broad. While versions of mild, moderate or severe disturbances have not been adequately described.
"Diagnosing patients with gaming disorder, then, will be based on a very subjective experience of doctors," he said. "And even most doctors will probably agree that they do not understand the concept for video games because they are not immersed in the world or experience it," Bean added.
According to him, the diagnosis of ICD is not properly informed. Because most doctors, and the mental health field as a whole, do not understand the gaming population.
"If we understand what genre makes everyone interested, it tells who they are as a person and why they chose it," Bean said. Then, doctors can recommend new games to guide gamers to healthier behavior.
"I did not create a precedent," said a member of WHO's Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, dr Vladimir Poznyak, who submitted a new diagnosis to the WHO decision-making body.
According to Poznyak there are three characteristics of gaming disorder. The first is always to play games instead of other activities. Second, it is difficult to control and control the time to play the game.
"For the third characteristic, where the condition leads to significant disruption and impairment in personal, family, social, educational or occupational functions, the impact is real, and may include disturbed sleep patterns, such as dietary problems, such as deficiencies in physical activity," explains Poznyak as quoted by CNN Health, Tuesday (19/6).
Overall, Poznyak said, these characteristics are very similar to the diagnostic characteristics of substance use and gambling disorders. Gambling disorders are another category of clinical conditions unrelated to the use of psychoactive substances but are at the same time considered addictions.
Poznyak notes that the ICD does not make 'prescriptions' in terms of insurance coverage or health service development, this decision is made by national authorities. But prevention and treatment interventions can help people to alleviate the suffering of gamers.
Whatever the therapy, Poznyak says, it should be based on understanding the nature of the behavior and what can be done to improve the situation. Prevention interventions may also be needed.
Ultimately, WHO hopes that inclusion of game disruptions in classification will stimulate debate as well as further research and international collaboration.
Meanwhile, a licensed psychologist and executive director at The Telos Project, a nonprofit mental health clinic in Fort Worth, Texas, Anthony Bean considers himself a member of the camp against the intrusion of game play on the ICD. According to him, it is still too early to be called a diagnosis.
"It's a bit premature, I'm a doctor and a researcher, so I see people playing video games in their experience, they actually use more games as a coping mechanism for anxiety or depression," Bean said.
Bean also judged, the criteria used by WHO to define gaming disorder into ICD, is too broad. While versions of mild, moderate or severe disturbances have not been adequately described.
"Diagnosing patients with gaming disorder, then, will be based on a very subjective experience of doctors," he said. "And even most doctors will probably agree that they do not understand the concept for video games because they are not immersed in the world or experience it," Bean added.
According to him, the diagnosis of ICD is not properly informed. Because most doctors, and the mental health field as a whole, do not understand the gaming population.
"If we understand what genre makes everyone interested, it tells who they are as a person and why they chose it," Bean said. Then, doctors can recommend new games to guide gamers to healthier behavior.
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