Your fortnite addiction might just be an official illness.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Saturday adopted the latest update to its International Classification of Diseases (ICD), which adds "gaming disorder" to its list of modern diseases.
The organisation last June added gaming addiction under its section of potentially harmful technology-related behaviours, including too much use of "the internet, computers, smartphones" and more.
Despite opposition from trade groups, which reportedly pointed to contradictory research on the subject and touted some of the virtues of video games, the latest ICD was officially approved at the 72nd World Health Assembly.
"Gaming disorder" lives under the "disorders due to addictive behaviour" section of the ICD. It's described as "a pattern of persistent or recurrent gaming behavior, which may be online or offline, manifested by impaired control over gaming, increasing priority given to gaming to the extent that gaming takes precedence over other life interests and daily activities and continuation or escalation of gaming despite the occurrence of negative consequences."
The issue of gaming addiction isn't new: The American Psychiatric Association still has it listed as up for discussion in the latest version of its diagnostic bible, the DSM-5.
The American Medical Association backed away from "video game addiction" in 2007.
Latest Stories
-
Made in Taadi must happen this year by hook or crook – Kofi Kinaata
1 min -
Labour unions contemplate May 2 strike over unpaid Tier-2 pension dues
3 mins -
Sedina Tamakloe’s arrest: MoF, MASLOC board can’t be left off the hook – Analyst
17 mins -
Three JHS boys arrested for allegedly gang-defiling 15-year-old colleague
23 mins -
Today’s front pages: Friday, April 19, 2024
33 mins -
Magnus RexDanquah : ‘Breaking the Eight’ – The Greatest Scam Ever since Ackah Blay Miezah’s Gold Deposits claim
40 mins -
You cannot advise a fool – Kofi Kinaata
2 hours -
Christopher Adu Boahen to be buried on April 25
4 hours -
Ghana will achieve universal access to electricity by end of the year – Finance Minister
4 hours -
Ghana is set to procure one million revenue-efficient meters
4 hours -
National Peace Council raises concern over hate speech, insults in the media
4 hours -
I will fight corruption ruthlessly – Alan Kyerematen
4 hours -
Akufo-Addo pledges to prioritise the welfare of cocoa farmers
4 hours -
I swore I wouldn’t marry a man like my father and then I married worse
5 hours -
Akufo-Addo vows to make cocoa farmers’ ‘welfare his priority’
5 hours