The World Health Organization (WHO) has included “gaming disorder” in the draft of the new edition of the international classifier of diseases. It will be released this year.
People with “gaming disorder” prefer video games to other activities, which can negatively affect their education, work and relationships. In addition, these people have weakened control over the time they spend on games.
WHO researchers compared this behavior with the habits of people suffering from gambling addiction.
The American Association of Video Game Manufacturers ESA and their British counterparts UKIE have already expressed doubts about the WHO initiative.
“We are very concerned about the inconclusiveness of the research and evidence on the basis of which the WHO has included the passion for video games in the list of diseases,” said the head of UKIE Jo Twist (Jo Twist).
Some scientists who conducted a study for WHO sided with the developers. “I feel that we don’t know enough yet. We could not prove that “gambling addiction” is directly related to human health. What we take for mania may just be enthusiasm,” said Dr. Netta Weinstein, a senior lecturer in psychology at Cardiff University.
Also on the topic: