The World Health
Organization said that gaming can be highly addictive and that "gaming
disorder" had been added to the latest version of the International
Classification of Diseases (ICD).
Video games are designed to be riveting, the
reaction designers hope for is "I couldn’t stop playing." But the
desire to keep players going and wanting more is actually becoming an addiction
for many.
The definition of gaming
disorder.
The ICD defines gaming disorder as an
"impaired control," meaning that increasing priority is given to
gaming. Over time, gaming - and the continuation or escalation of gaming - can
take priority over other interests and daily activities, despite of some
negative consequences.
For an official diagnosis of "gaming
disorder," video game playing must have an effect on your work, personal
or family life for twelve months.
Who are gamers?
In 2018, more than 150 million Americans were
playing video games and 64 percent of American households were home to at least
one person who plays video games regularly or at least three hours per week.
The scenario is the same in Malaysia.
Those who think it is just teens playing are
wrong. The average gamer is 34 years old and 72 percent of gamers are age 18 or
older.
A research study in April 2017 from the Pew
Research Center found that six in 10 Americans ages 18 to 29 played video games
and half of Americans ages 30 to 59 played. This survey study counted video
games played on computers, TV, game consoles and mobile phones. The most
popular types of video games were puzzle and strategy games, followed by
adventure games and shooter games.
Some health care professionals believe that
depression or anxiety could be linked to video game addiction, but the jury is
out on which comes first. Are addicts more likely to become depressed or are
those who are depressed more likely to become addicts?
Gaming disorder is labeled as
a disease.
Officially designating "gaming
disorder" as a disease serves a number of purposes, according to Dr.
Shekhar Saxena, director of WHO’s Department of Mental Health and Substance
Abuse. It may help gamers to be aware that they have a problem, encourage
psychiatrists and therapists to provide treatment and increase the chances that
insurance companies would cover the cost of that treatment.
How is gaming disorder
treated?
Mental health specialists are trying to provide
therapy and medications, using treatments for anxiety or alcoholism as a model.
Wilderness camps and rehabilitation centres are
available for gaming addicts overseas but can be extremely expensive. Though
they might work on a given gamer but there is no medical proof that they work
overall. The treatment approach first takes the gamer through the
equivalent of a detox: a digital "de-tech" period. They work to
address mental health issues - depression, anxiety, and attention deficit
disorder (ADD) while coming to grips with factors that might lead to increased
virtual connection and developing an individualized plan for how to engage with
digital media in a healthy way.
Should everyone be concerned
about gaming disorder?
The WHO suggests that only a small number of
people who play video games will be affected with gaming disorders. For people
who play video games, the advice is: be aware of the number of hours in front
of the game.
It becomes a problem when people start to avoid
daily activities or when it affects their social lives, physical or
psychological health.
In light of the new WHO classification, perhaps there will be a new awareness that too much "Candy Crush" may not just be a quirk, it could be a real problem!
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