WHO classifies "Gaming Disorder" as a mental condition - Sensationalist Headlines

https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/18/health/video-game-disorder-who/index.html Watching as a video game ensnares their child, many a parent has grumbled about "digital heroin," likening the flashing images to one of the world's most addictive substances. Now, they may have backup: The World Health Organization announced "gaming disorder" as a new mental health condition included in the 11th edition of its International Classification of Diseases, released Monday. "I'm not creating a precedent," said Dr. Vladimir Poznyak, a member of WHO's Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, which proposed the new diagnosis to WHO's decision-making body, the World Health Assembly. Instead, he said, WHO has followed "the trends, the developments, which have taken place in populations and in the professional field." However, not all psychologists agree that gaming disorder is worthy of inclusion in the International Classification of Diseases, known as the ICD.

Gaming can be unhealthy, but until we have a "literature disorder", "cinema disorder", and "musical disorder" on the books the this reeks of old men grumbling about things they don't like.

as someone who has ADHD one of the reasons I can hyperfocus on games is that you get instant feedback, something adhd brains really really like. im not really comfortable with this being an actual thing as a result. id hate to see kids who have legitimate issues with adhd get diagnosed with this instead because their parents feel they're playing too many games.

Factors abound, but in the end its really the same symptoms of lack of self control and or exploiting gamblers addiction. "I'm not creating a precedent," said Dr. Vladimir Poznyak, a member of WHO's Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, which proposed the new diagnosis to WHO's decision-making body, the World Health Assembly. Instead, he said, WHO has followed "the trends, the developments, which have taken place in populations and in the professional field." The recent micro transaction scandals are no doubt one of the big smoking guns.

better alternative then adderall I’ll give you that problem is people use video games as a form of escapism which can lead to people not directly facing their problems head on and choosing the more fun and safe alternative that isn’t going to put them out of their comfort zone

this has absolutely nothing to do with what i said.

I can see "gaming disorder" being closely related to gambling addiction. Though not all gaming is gambling, slot machines, pachinko machines, and many games (especially mobile games) are designed to have flashy lights and colors and stuff to hook users. While I think an addiction to something like CS:GO or Fortnight would probably be an exaggeration, I can see gambling addiction and addiction to games like candy crush being valid under similar rules, especially since many of those IOS games are designed to get you to pay for microtransactions, just like how slot machines are designed to get you to insert small amounts of money at a time

Creating a disorder because she parents can't be arsed controlling their kids lmao

There are a few other behavioral addictions listed too, they're specified because they have some distinguishing characteristic that makes them worthy of extra focus and research. For gaming this is especially the case in east asia, and in certain demographics in the west too. It's doubtful that they're picking on games just because they don't like them because we don't remotely see the same problems from literature, cinema, or music at such a high prevalence. American psychiatrists and psychologists have also been looking into this. In the DSM-V there's a section called "Conditions for future study" which basically serves as a "Hey can someone go research this" section, and "Internet Gaming Disorder" is in there, and honestly is probably going to wind up in the next version as a full non-substance-related disorder like gambling.

Not being an expert, I would say the difference between playing an unhealthy amount of videogames and "gaming addiction" would probably be that when you just spend too much time playing games, it's because you're procrastinating or are avoiding other social issues (anxiety, depression, etc.) and games help you either cope or forget. However, gaming addiction would probably be better categorized by "the games themselves have addicting qualities", similar to how slot machines and pachinko machines are designed to BE addictive

you mentioned ADHD and Adderall is a commonly prescribed medication for those with that condition im saying games are better and more conventional treatment method then taking Adderall, Ritalin, or Vyvanse.

Yep, that's pretty much what it says in the current draft. If you maintain your job/academics, decent physical health, and are satisfied with your social life, but still easily play 6 hours of video games a day there still shouldn't be anything wrong with you by these standards. What exactly to do you mean by treatment? ADD drugs are pretty highly effective especially paired w/ behavioral training. I'm not aware of any trials on just handing ADD people video games to get them to function better in daily life.

Exactly this. I play around on a game that's an animal breeding sim. The only way to get unrelated animals into the game is by "capturing" which costs in game currency. The problem is, you're not promised to get anything good. In fact, I'd say well over 98% of captures are bad. Yet despite this, people will dump tons of money into capturing. Yesterday, someone dumped 800k trying to get something. For reference, 100k roughly equals $10. I know people on there who're perpetually broke because they dump all their game money on captures...And I wouldn't be surprised if there's some who spend money to buy game currency to fuel their capturing habits. It's basically a form of gambling.

holy fuck no. video games are not a treatment for adhd. what are you smoking? for the vast, and I mean vast majority of people with ADHD brains (somewhere in the 80% range) medication is effective at helping them.

I'm saying is that an early age when it comes to problems like ADHD Doctors are just so quick to signing off on some amphetamine prescription and calling the problem fixed. While it does work, it's not the best long term solution when it comes to problems like this. And prescription pills don't help you grow out of it, they make you dependent on it. Where-as something like taking maybe an hour or two out of the day to play video games which seem to offer like IlluminatiRex said something that makes him feel rewarded and helps his condition rather than taking an Adderall once every morning. There's even an article posted by the Rolling Stone about a game specifically designed for children with ADHD and already the results seem promising https://www.rollingstone.com/glixel/news/special-video-game-helps-treat-adhd-study-w504042

you don't "grow out of adhd". you have it for life, it's a difference in how your brain is wired and processes information.

I think there's probably an issue with the over pre-prescription of drugs to counteract adhd.

I was diagnosed at an early age for ADHD and prescribed Adderall. I've been off the stuff for over ten years and function like any other adult, I graduated high-school, I went to college, and I have a job. Either I was misdiagnosed (and so could plenty of other kids could be today living in the United States) Or because I wasn't dependent on prescription medicine (I didn't like taking it) and that I got off it, that I was able to find a way to cope with it without having to take a pill everyday.

ADHD by the Numbers .

Makes sense, there are people who allow video games to become everything to the point of addiction. They get addicted to game-play mechanics and let their health spiral out of control. There have been people who neglected their own children to play video games. Sure there might be other factors coming into play but video games is apart of that. You guys need to stop feeling personally attacked because of this type of diagnosis, just because you play video games doesn't mean you are mentally ill or going to face a stigma.

Some video games are a fun way to compete with friends. Some video games are a playground for kids to develop unhealthy narcissistic fantasies. I can see the basis in this study. Just limit kids to a few hours a week or whatever.

Gaming addiction seems to be compeltely real, especially after news like this: http://uk.businessinsider.com/fortnite-addiction-parents-9-year-old-daughter-rehab-2018-6 A 9 year old playing so much fortnite that she wets herself? That's extreme. I know I have played for more than 10 hours a day sometimes, but that's more of a social thing, as I did it with my friends and we were talking on Skype/TS/Discord the whole time, or at a LAN. And it lasts usually only for a few weeks during winter and I do keep doing my chores and I do not forget to eat etc. The South Park WoW episode comes to mind, that was addiction level shit they parodied.

So if the issue is the persons own self control, and the issues around that, why are we talking about video games as a part of that, when in reality we're talking about the failure of an individual to manage their own life? Look, I'm all for acknowledging the failure of our biology where it is present, but at the same time, we also have to understand the impact personal choice, and responsibility play in all of this.

it's not a gaming addiction, it's an addiction to endorphins. Video games are just the vehicle, like any other hobby.

Okay, so if that is being the case. Obviously they need to recognize the "vehicle" because the treatment is different for different "vehicles". If someone is addicted to gaming are you going to used the same techniques as someone who is chemically dependent on drugs? No. Oh okay, drugs are not the issue, its peoples lack of self-control, they just don't have the control to stop taking drugs. I guess they should have been stronger people.

Yeah, they should have been. I'm an ex-heroin addict. I stand by my statement that they should do better.

Yeah, you have some clear biases. What works for you isn't going to work for everyone else. This is why we have specialized treatments that are tailored to individual needs. You are extremely ignorant to think otherwise.

so have I but that doesn't negate the fact that ADHD impacts my everyday life - from a true lack of a working memory, to inattentiveness, figititing, messed up circadian rhythm (there has been researching demonstrating a link between ADHD and a sleep cycle that starts later at night), not to mention whenever i hyperfocus on something and forget to eat and do other things. having friends and a social life and making your way through different stages of school doesn't mean you suddenly don't have adhd.

No. Nothing about what I'm saying should drive anyone away from fixing their problem. "Hey, I know you have personal experience with this but please don't share that because it's incorrect". Accepting personal responsibility for the actions that I was taking was a key and crucial component of overcoming addiction. I don't know what you want here, but all I can gather from it is you want a knee-jerk feel good fix to help these people. There isn't one. The issue is hard to grapple with, multi-faceted and sure as shit isn't dealt with well by people who have no experience with it telling others how it's fixed. The only way out of addiction is hard work and will power. Everything else is ancillary and supplementary. It comes down to the person on fixing their issues. What are you even blaming games for here? How is it gamings fault, and not a personal failing of that person? My doing heroin was a personal failing. How are you going to strip people of their own accountability for their own actions? All the while telling me that my ethos of personal responsibility is actually what drives people deeper into their drug problems.

Afaik most people are able to deal with adhd symptoms in a non-medication way, with time. CBT can also help. ADHD management is in a big way dependent on how much of your shit you have together, something in short supply with children. I've got ADHD and I manage it with a strict schedule for important things, exercise, and meditation.