Video game addiction appears on the list of mental disorders in revision number 11 of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD) from World Health Organization (WHO), which officially came into force on January 1.
First published in June 2018 and approved in May 2019, ICD revision number 11 typifies video game addiction as a disorder characterized by a pattern of behavior “persistent or recurring” manifested by the deterioration in control over the game; the increase in the priority given to gambling to the degree that it takes precedence over other interests and activities of daily life; the continuation or increase of the game despite having negative consequences.
The document stresses that “it is generally evident over a period of at least 12 months for the diagnosis to be assigned, although the required duration may be shortened if all diagnostic requirements are met and the symptoms are severe.”
“The diagnosis of video game use disorder can be assigned only by professional doctors. So the diagnosis of video game use disorder cannot be applied to their relatives or friends. This corresponds only to doctors,” said the expert. of the WHO on psychoactive substances and addictive behavior Vladímir Pozniak.
The specialist reiterated that “it cannot be said that a certain increase in the intensity of activity in video games is a disorder.”