Why it's too soon to classify gaming addiction as a mental disorder
by Andy Przybylski and Amy Orben from on (#3FW2V)
Concerns over the addictive properties of video games are reasonable but there is a lack of rigorous research behind the WHO's expected classification
Video games played on smartphones, tablets, computers and consoles have been a popular form of leisure for some time now. In Europe, recent figures indicate that games are played by more than two thirds of children and adolescents, and a substantial number of adults now play games - 38% in the UK, 64% in France, 56% in Germany and 44% in Spain.
The WHO will publish the next revision of its manual - the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) - by mid-2018 and gaming disorder has been included in the draft for the first time.
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