Digital Gaming addiction defined as a mental disorder by World Health Organisation

• WHO described the addiction as a “pattern of persistent or recurrent gaming behaviour” that becomes so extensive it “takes precedence over other life interests”
• Gaming disorder can lead to disturbed sleep patterns, diet problems and deficiency in physical activities

 

Digital Gaming  Addiction

Although   substance addiction with  drugs or alcohol is well recognized, newer  addictive behaviors are now being realized as well. As  digital and vedio gaming has been quite popular now, compulsive gaming and  severe withdrawal symptoms in game addicts are getting commoner. A child/ adult needs more of a  game  to keep him going. If the child does not get more of the game, he becomes irritable and miserable.

If parent try to prohibit gaming, children exhibit  anger, violence, or depression. The children cry, sit in the corner and cries, refuses meals or sleep.

For  compulsive gamers, it is  the fantasy world that makes them feel better.

The lure of a fantasy world is especially pertinent to online role-playing games. These are games in which a player assumes the role of a fictional character and interacts with other players in a virtual world. As  A child can  show his dominance in the game. There fore virtual life becomes more appealing than real life.

possibility of harm: gaming addiction can ruin lives. Children who play few hours per day have  no time left for socializing, studies, or sports. Social development is poor.

In older people or adults  it can have effect on professional life and relationships.

 

Warning signs for  gaming  addiction include:  The important  issue here is  whether one is  able to control  gaming activity or not:

• Playing for increasing amounts of time
• Thinking about gaming during other activities
• to choose gaming to escape from real-life problems, anxiety,  depression
• Lying to friends and family to conceal gaming
• Feeling irritable when trying to cut down on gaming

Gaming addicts tend to become isolated, giving up other hobbies and  withdrawn from other activities.

Parents need to be careful

Parents need to be careful and not take it as another routine phase of childhood.  Keep  track of  child’s gaming behavior, including:

• for how long and frequently  the child plays.
• Problems resulting from gaming
• How the child reacts to time limits

to get rid of the game addiction, these children need to be taught about the advantages of real life excitement as opposed to online achievements.

Addiction to digital and video gaming has been classified as a mental health disorder by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in its new International Classification of Diseases (ICD).

The agency described the addiction as a “pattern of persistent or recurrent gaming behaviour” that becomes so extensive it “takes precedence over other life interests

The classification is aimed at alerting health professionals and systems to the existence of this condition and ensuring that people suffering from these conditions can get appropriate help.

“Gaming disorder” has three main characteristics. One, that the gaming behaviour takes precedence over other activities to the extent that other activities are pushed to the periphery.

 

If the condition leads to significant distress and impairment in personal, familial, social, educational or occupational functioning.

Gaming disorder can lead to disturbed sleep patterns, diet problems and deficiency in physical activities.

The 11th edition of ICD covers 55,000 injuries, diseases and causes of death. Researchers across the world use it as reference for data, whereas doctors and other medical practitioners use it to diagnose disease and other conditions. The ICD is also used by health insurers in some countries to claim reimbursements based on ICD coding.

Besides, the classification is used by national health program managers; data collection specialists; and others. The new ICD-11 also reflects progress in medicine and advances in scientific understanding.