WHO Adds ‘Gaming Disorder’ To The International Classification Of Diseases

Too much of anything is bad, and this is applicable to gaming where in the past, we’ve seen how some people are so obsessed with their games that they react violently when they lose, or how they end up neglecting their babies because they’re too engrossed in their games. We’ve even seen how some gamers have actually died because they would rather play their games than take care of themselves.

This has led to the World Health Organization (WHO) to consider adding “gaming disorder” to its list of mental health problems. Now it seems that after a year or so of consideration, the WHO has voted to recognize “gaming disorder” as a health condition. Based on the WHO’s categorization, it claims that those who have impaired control over gaming, or who give increasing priority to their games, or who continue to game despite negative consequences could be considered to have a “gaming disorder”.

Now, in the past, there have been some who have disagreed with the WHO’s classification of “gaming disorder”, where they have disagreed with how it was defined. For example, some organizations such as the UK’s Ukie and the US’s Entertainment Software Association have called upon the WHO to “rethink their decision”, where they have said that there are benefits to gaming. While there is no doubt about that, as we said, too much of anything is probably not a good idea.

Tyler Lee
Categories: Gaming, General
Tags: Health