WHO’s gaming disorder classification ‘premature’

London, June 25: The classification of “gaming disorder” as a mental health condition by the World Health Organization (WHO) was “premature” and based on a “moral panic”, experts have suggested. They contended that while the decision was well intentioned, there was a lack of good quality scientific evidence about how to properly diagnose video game addiction, the BBC reported. According to the WHO, a person has gaming disorder if they have impaired control over gaming, in terms of frequency, intensity, duration, and termination. These people give increasing priority to gaming “to the extent that gaming takes precedence over other life interests”, and that they will continue gaming despite the occurrence of negative consequences, it said. But the move risked “pathologising” a behaviour that was harmless for most people, the report said. (IANS)