Gaming Addiction A Mental Disorder, Says World Health Organisation

Addiction to digital and video gaming has been classified as a mental health disorder by the World Health Organization (WHO) in its new International Classification of Diseases (ICD). The agency described the addiction as a pattern of persistent or recurrent gaming behavior; that becomes so extensive it takes precedence over other life interests.

The classification is aimed at alerting health professionals and systems to the existence of this condition and ensuring that people suffering from these conditions can get appropriate help.

The gaming behavior takes precedence over other activities to the extent those other activities is pushed to the periphery. If the condition leads to significant distress and impairment in personal, familial, social, educational or occupational functioning, Gaming disorder can lead to disturbed sleep patterns, diet problems and deficiency in physical activities.

Not only gaming, but even Facebook over usage and Instagram over usage, must be classified as a mental disorder. "Families have stopped bonding leading to isolated adolescents. Alertness is also poor because of over exposure to harmful radiation from screen exposure;