Five Points For And Against The Diagnosis Of Video Game Addiction

Recently, the American Medical Association rejected a proposal to include video game addiction as an official psychiatric disorder. This decision was made for a number of reasons including the fact that well-designed research on internet and computer addiction was relatively limited. As such, the AMA took a conservative approach and held off on granting official classification to excessive internet use and computer gaming.

Although a decision was made regarding the official diagnosis of video game addiction, the debate continues.

On one side are the researchers, psychologists, psychiatrists, and individuals struggling to control excessive gaming who argue that video game addiction is a real problem and should be classified as such. They often suggest that video game addiction is a disorder of impulse control similar to gambling addiction.

On the other side are researchers, psychologist, psychiatrists, and portions of the general public who argue that there is limited objective evidence that video games are inherently addictive and it is not appropriate to classify them alongside problems such as alcohol, drug, and gambling addiction.

Common arguments against the classification of video game addiction as an official mental disorder include:

1. There does not appear to be the same consequences for video game addiction as there are for other addictions. For example, drug addiction can result in job loss, serious health problems, and involvement in illegal activities. Video game addiction mainly results in lost time.

2. Media reports on video game addiction may cause people to see problems where in fact, none exist.

3. Using games as a temporary escape form reality and stress is not necessarily a problem and may actually be adaptive.

4. Excessive video game use may simply be the expression of another underlying problem such as depression or anxiety.

5. People may turn to video games to avoid dealing with other issues, but this does not mean that they are “addicted.”

Common arguments for the classification of video game addiction as an official mental disorder include:

1. There is a growing movement to consider the addictive qualities of behaviors that do not involve drugs or alcohol (such as gambling, sex, exercise, and video games).

2. Gambling addiction, which is recognized as an official mental disorder, appears to share many behaviors and symptoms with excessive online computer gaming.

3. When gambling addiction was first proposed, critics had many of the same arguments as those who oppose the classification of video game addiction today.

4. Video game addiction has been associated with very real negative consequences such as obesity, strained family relationships, martial difficulties, academic deterioration, and poor job performance.

5. Simply because unhealthy levels of gaming can be triggered by another underlying condition (e.g., low self-esteem) does not negate the validity of the condition. For example, alcoholism may be triggered by untreated depression, but no one questions whether alcohol addiction is “real.” Just because video game addiction can at times be caused by another problem is not a valid reason to conclude that it does not exist.

By: Dr. Brent Conrad

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Dr. Brent Conrad is a clinical psychologist and author who specializes in internet, computer and video game addiction treatment. He is committed to providing honest, helpful, and straight-forward advice on how to overcome online addictions. Read more on video game addiction at his professional website.