According to WHO recently, they officially recognized the new illness called “Gaming Disorder”, based on the WHO Update and also many news outlet pointed out, the definitions are
Gaming disorder is characterized by a pattern of persistent or recurrent gaming behaviour (‘digital gaming’ or ‘video-gaming’), which may be online (i.e., over the internet) or offline, manifested by:
- impaired control over gaming (e.g., onset, frequency, intensity, duration, termination, context);
- increasing priority given to gaming to the extent that gaming takes precedence over other life interests and daily activities; and
- continuation or escalation of gaming despite the occurrence of negative consequences. The behaviour pattern is of sufficient severity to result in significant impairment in personal, family, social, educational, occupational or other important areas of functioning.
The pattern of gaming behaviour may be continuous or episodic and recurrent. The gaming behaviour and other features are normally evident over a period of at least 12 months in order for a diagnosis to be assigned, although the required duration may be shortened if all diagnostic requirements are met and symptoms are severe.
In essence, people who leave their responsibilities in favor of playing games, are included as gaming disorder, the game itself is not a disorder, probably just like eating, there’s an illness called eating disorder, but the eating part are okay.
other outlet
- ‘Gaming disorder’ officially on World Health Organization’s list of diseases
- ‘Gaming Disorder’ officially recognized as disease by World Health Organization (Updated)