WHO classifies ‘gaming disorder’ as mental health condition
(CNN) Watching as a video game ensnares their child, many a parent has grumbled about « digital heroin, » likening the flashing images to one of the world’s most addictive substances. Now, they may have backup: The World Health Organization announced « gaming disorder » as a new mental health condition included in the 11th edition of its International Classification of Diseases, released Monday.
« I’m not creating a precedent, » said Dr. Vladimir Poznyak, a member of WHO’s Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, which proposed the new diagnosis to WHO’s decision-making body, the World Health Assembly. Instead, he said, WHO has followed « the trends, the developments, which have taken place in populations and in the professional field. »
Characteristics of gaming disorder
‘It’s a little bit premature’
CNN’s Ben Tinker contributed to this report.