The World Health Organization (WHO) made a new addition to their International classification of diseases (ICD-11), “Gaming disorder”, despite the American Psychiatric Association (APA) stating that there is insufficient evidence to call it a disease. Its characteristics and effects are much similar to a substance use disorder. Some of the symptoms include
An inability to control gaming behaviors, for instance, trying to play less but being unable to stop
Gaming to the extent that other activities and responsibilities are neglected
Continuing to game or even escalating duration and frequency of gaming despite the fact that doing so is causing negative consequences, such as poor health or difficulties in relationships
ICD-11 states that the symptoms must be severe enough to significantly impair social, educational, personal, occupational, and other areas of functioning.
Methods of diagnosis include analysis of behavioral changes such as
Anger, depression, or anxiety when not gaming
Feeling calm again when back to games
Thinking a lot about gaming
Losing track of time when playing
Lying about the time spent on gaming
This newly recognized disorder has indifferent treatments such as behavior modification therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). But a medical treatment is yet to be developed.
What about co-occurring mental disorders or such a short-term rewarding act being a secondary response to an underlying issue? Let’s consider two scenarios as examples:
1. A lonely boy is being bullied at school. He is miserably failing his grades due to a probable learning disorder which is yet to be identified. He comes to a broken home with a drunkard father. With a motive of escaping his atrocious reality, he switches on his PS4 and continues playing Call of duty until his mom pesters him to get ready for school. Food? Sleep? they all draw him back to the reality he is too afraid to face. Should his condition be classified as a gaming disorder or should we treat his core learning disability?
2. A man in his 20s who recently broke off an 8-year long relationship. He is struggling to stay focused in his workplace and constantly gets into feuds with his colleagues. He has poor attendance and is on the verge of losing his job. He comes home and sits in front of his computer and gets indulged in Minecraft, as his stress reliever and continues so for days, not realizing that he needs to be attending to his job.
For these unappreciated individuals who are struggling through life, a sense of accomplishment is gained by engaging in games. How? they keep ascending from a level to another, something that seems to be an impossible task in their day-to-day lives. Moreover, it helps them escape their bitter realities and aids in suppressing their emotions and stress, short term.
Especially in an environment where serious mental health issues such as depression and bipolar disorder are stigmatized and considered very lowly, the term “gaming disorder” feels a lot more comfortable and a well suiting mask. But doing so, is it favoring the person in any way?
Esther Swamidason
EBH 2022