WHO officially ranked 'addiction game' is mental disorder

In its latest publication, the World Health Organization (WHO) believes that gaming disorders, also known as game addiction (game disoder), should be considered a mental disorder. However, this issue has not been consensus from the medical community and researchers.

WHO has added a game disorder to the 11th edition of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases (ICDs) used to classify health conditions. It is similar to the Mental Disorders Diagnostic and Statistical Handbook (DSM) published in the US but the ICD has a wider scope and is used internationally.

It seems a bit early to recognize this, so it's best to see it as a diagnosis.

Three types of behaviors to define game disorder or game addiction include: uncontrollable when playing games such as location, frequency and time of play; value gaming more than anything else in life and spend a lot of time playing games regardless of the negative consequences; and games that stress the patient's life or relationship. According to WHO, this classification should be recognized for at least the next year.

Vladimir Konyak, a member of WHO, told CNN news agency: "We did not create a precedent. WHO is just watching the trends, developments and what's happening with the world population in areas of expertise".

However, this decision will undoubtedly be controversial for studies that are investigating this issue. For example, with the US diagnosis and statistics system of DSM psychosis, "game addiction" on the Internet is placed in the section of further research. In 2016, experts wrote a letter to WHO proposing the addition of "game addiction" to the ICD category . These experts argue that "action to formalize game disorder or even just a proposal whether in any field including medical, scientific, public health or social and human rights are worth considering. "

In a response to CNN, psychologist Anthony Bean said: " I am a clinical doctor and a researcher, so I am very clear that people are becoming addicted to the game." However, Bean adds, the review criteria are too broad and it makes it impossible to distinguish between mild and severe forms of disease. "It still seems a bit early to recognize this, so it's best to see it as a diagnosis , " he said.