Gaming disorder is recognized as a mental health disease
The World Health Organization (WHO) is planning to recognize gaming disorder as a mental health disease in 2018. The 11th revision of the WHO's International Classification of Diseases (ICD), which is a major worldwide reference for epidemiological, clinical, and health-management issues, will include a new listing for a mental health condition termed "gaming disorder," which is related to an individual's overuse of video-game playing. Specifically, this newly classified mental health disorder is characterized by recurrent or persistent gaming behavior in an individual, resulting in the individual's significant impairment in real-life activities and functions, including the deterioration of familial, social, and professional relationships. According to WHO, the condition is manifested particularly by "impaired control over gaming," "increasing priority given to gaming," and "escalation of gaming despite the occurrence of negative consequences." In many ways, gaming disorder will be diagnosed similarly to other addictive disorders. See also: Addiction and addictive disorders; Brain; Computer peripheral devices; Human-computer interaction; Mental disorders; Psychology; Video disk; Video games; Virtual reality