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- The World Health Organization now recognizes video game addiction as a mental health disorder
- It will be included at the presentation of the latest update of the International Classification of Diseases at the World Health Day on May 2019
Parents now have a valid argument upon limiting your screen time when it comes to video games.
The World Health Organization now recognizes video game addiction as a type of mental health disorder.
In the latest reference bible of recognized and diagnosable diseases, addiction to digital and video gaming is a pattern of persistent or recurrent gaming behavior that becomes so extensive that it “takes precedence over other life interests”.
The International Classification of Diseases or ICD, which has been updated over the past 10 years, now covers 55,000 injuries, diseases and causes of death. It forms a basis for the WHO and other experts to see and respond to trends in health.
According to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus’ statement upon the publication of ICD, “It enables us to understand so much about what makes people get sick and die, and to take action to prevent suffering and save lives,”
The ICD-11, which is its latest version includes changes to sexual health classifications. Previous editions had categorized sexual dysfunction and gender incongruence, for example, under mental health conditions, while in ICD-11 these move to the sexual health section.
The latest edition also has a new chapter on traditional medicine.
The latest version of the International Classification of Diseases is scheduled to be presented in May 2019 at the World Health Assembly.
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