WHO recognizes ‘excessive gaming’ as an official disorder for the first time

The WHO has officially included gaming disorders in the handbook of diagnosable diseases, the ICD-11. The health organization classifies excessive gaming in the category of addiction diseases, and comes after gambling addiction.

The WHO has had an explanation on its website about gaming disorder for some time, but as of last week the organization has also officially agreed to list excessive gaming as a disorder in the International Classification of Diseases, version 11. Member States of the WHO voted in favor at the World Health Assembly.

That means that from 2022, excessive gaming will officially appear as a disorder in the handbook for diagnosing diseases used by doctors and other health professionals. The decision is against the sore leg of some game makers, who had asked the WHO not to recognize excessive gaming as a disorder.

Gaming addiction has been recognized as an official disorder for years. It was already discussed by the WHO in 2017 after years of discussion. Proponents believe that recognizing the disorder can help address the issues seen in video game addiction.