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The World Health Organization has officially added 'Gaming Disorder' to its list of recognised illnesses after the 194 members of the group met at the 72nd World Health Assembly over the weekend.
You may remember the motion was first drafted back in January of last year, when it was put forward to be included in a new revision of the 'International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems' as a 'disorder due to addictive behaviour'. This addition was passed in the revision approved over the weekend.
The document – also known as the ICD 11, which you can read here – characterises Gaming Disorder as follows: 'Gaming disorder is characterized by a pattern of persistent or recurrent gaming behaviour, which may be online 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.'
In a statement picked up by GamesIndustry.biz, the WHO said on the decision: 'The inclusion of gaming disorder in ICD-11 follows the development of treatment programmes for people with health conditions identical to those characteristic of gaming disorder in many parts of the world, and will result in the increased attention of health professionals to the risks of development of this disorder and, accordingly, to relevant prevention and treatment measures.'
Games industry bodies have hit back over the ruling, with representatives from organisations such as the UKIE, the ESA and more have asked the WHO to reconsider the move at the earliest opportunity, with a joint statement from the bodies – also picked up by GamesIndustry.biz – saying 'The WHO is an esteemed organization and its guidance needs to be based on regular, inclusive, and transparent reviews backed by independent experts. 'Gaming disorder' is not based on sufficiently robust evidence to justify its inclusion in one of the WHO's most important norm-setting tools.'
The new ICD-11 ruling cementing the decision will officially come into effect from January 1, 2022.
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