New diagnosis needed for problem gaming, researchers say

Researchers from the University of Queensland suggest a new diagnosis should be added to the official world disease list to better identify people with gaming disorders.

Honorary Professor John Saunders from UQ’s National Center for Youth Substance Use Research said a review of the current range of diagnoses showed there was a missing “middle ground” in the problematic gaming spectrum in the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Diseases.

The research was published in Current opinion in psychiatry.

“Under current classifications, Hazardous Gaming identifies a person at risk of developing harm from gaming, and Gaming Disorder is an addiction to gaming, but there is nothing in between,” Professor Saunders said. “We developed the definition of harmful gaming as a persistent pattern of gaming behavior that has caused harm to a person’s physical or mental health.

“A classification for harmful gaming would help identify people on the path to more serious gaming disorder and get them help before it’s too late.”

A gaming disorder is a gaming addiction in which a person cannot control the habit and prioritizes it over relationships, education and work.

“Around 3 percent of gamers are diagnosed with a gaming disorder, but more than twice that number would qualify for a diagnosis of harmful gaming,” Professor Saunders said. “Introducing a classification for harmful gaming would align the diagnostic spectrum with substance use disorders and provide a framework for public health approaches to combat the harm it causes.”

It is estimated that more than 3 billion people worldwide regularly play video games.

Associate Professor Gary Chung Kai Chan said it is important for people to recognize when their gaming behavior is affecting their health and wellbeing.

“Gaming provides many positive experiences for people to connect and build social connections, but it is important that this is done in moderation,” said Dr. Chan. “More and more evidence has shown how addictive video gaming can be for many people, and the harm it can cause. It’s crucial to be aware of the amount of time spent gaming and ensure this is balanced with other healthy habits to help reduce the risk. of damage to our physical and mental health.”