Doctors dismiss 'videogame addiction' claim

[Shrygue]

via Games Industry


Leading doctors have stated that 'videogame addiction' is not to be recognised as a mental illness, or put in the same category as addiction to drugs or alcohol.

A debate at the American Medical Association found that doctors were opposed to such a classification, believing that more research needs to be done

"There's nothing here to suggest that this is a complex physiological disease state akin to alcoholism or other substance abuse disorders, and it doesn't get to have the word addition attached to it," said Dr. Stuart Gitlow of the American Society of Addiction Medicine.

The group stated that if research shows that videogame addiction is legitimate, it could be included in the American Psychiatric Association's next diagnostic manual in five years time.

The American Medical Association is to make a final recommendation on the subject later this week.

[VampDude]

VideoGame's to an addict is like chocolate to a fat person, what's the fat persons excuse? ADDICTION, MENTAL ILLNESS etc!

[JKKDARK]

Yeah I agree, it's not like drugs or alcohol. It will not destroy your body or something.

[VampDude]

Yeah I agree, it's not like drugs or alcohol. It will not destroy your body or something.

VideoGame's can actually make you smarter! (strategy/puzzle etc)

[Anonymous D]

amen VampDude thanks to doom i can now concentrate on two exits of a room at once....its ever so useful

[VampDude]

amen VampDude thanks to doom i can now concentrate on two exits of a room at once....its ever so useful

That I think is good to know?

[Anonymous D]

it is sort off , but seriously games have given me better reaction times, and puzzle games have helped pass the time when it was "revision" lol

[VampDude]

it is sort off , but seriously games have given me better reaction times, and puzzle games have helped pass the time when it was "revision" lol

Cool, puzzle games make me angry for some reason