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Doctor Urges AMA To Classify Gaming Addiction

Posted by Zonk on from the we-who-are-about-to-grind-for-xp-salute-you dept.

Doctor Mario writes "The AMA has issued a set of findings and recommendations (Word document) which follow a lengthy look at possible connections between gaming and violence, as well as gaming addiction. Ars Technica has a very good summary of the report, which suggests that gaming addiction is likely to be a subset of Internet addiction 'as it most frequently occurs in players of MMORPGs. In both of these addictions, the current definition is currently informal — the described symptoms actually most closely resemble pathological gambling, rather than an addiction. In either case, the report notes, "there is currently insufficient research to definitively conclude that video game overuse is an addiction."' The report also recommends that Internet and videogame addiction be included in a revision to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders."

3 of 258 comments (clear)

  1. Re:It's a habit, not an addiction. by wframe9109 · · Score: 2, Informative

    I hate when uneducated folk try to make this argument.

    An addiction to something you find pleasurable may not have a few negative withdrawal effects, but EVERYTHING else is the same, including the PHYSICAL changes in the brain.

    I wish I could provide a compelling argument for you, but you obviously have no background in neuroscience, and would thus have no idea what was being argued.

  2. Non-Word version by jam244 · · Score: 2, Informative

    http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dhjjdf9j_5c2cch4

  3. Re:Addiction? by ceoyoyo · · Score: 4, Informative

    Addiction is characterized by uncontrolled, compulsive use. Generally it has to be interfering with normal social functioning to warrant concern as well.

    So if you watch TV or play games for a couple hours a night, but don't mind too much when you can't and it doesn't interfere with your life, that's not an addiction.

    However, if you spend 48 hours straight playing a game and die of a venous thrombosis, or lose your job because you can't stand to miss your soaps, that probably is.