"I prefer saying that game addiction is part of mental disorder but behavioral disorder," Anung remarked in a press statement here on Saturday.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially included video game addition or game disorder into the new version of
International Statistical Classification of Diseases (ICD) as mental illness for the first time.
ICD is a list of medical classifications issued by WHO, containing the list of diseases and the symptoms, signs, and causes. ICD is an international standard for disease reporting and health conditions and is used by all health practitioners in the world.
In the latest version of ICD-11, WHO mentions that game addiction is a disorder caused by habit or addiction.
WHO defines game addiction as a pattern of play behavior, either online or offline games as well as digital games or video games with multiple marks.
People are said to be addicted to games if they can not control the desire to play games, more priority to play games than interest in other activities, and continue to play games despite the obvious negative consequences.
WHO also mentions someone has been addicted to the game if the behavioral pattern is very strong and has a good impact on personal, family, social, educational, work, and other important areas, and is clearly visible for at least 12 months.
With the inclusion of game addiction into the ICD-11, it will raise the healthcare professional`s attention to the risk of health problems over such behavioral patterns, and the need to develop relevant prevention and treatment measures.
Reporter: Aditya Ramadhan
Editor: Suharto
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