Gaming addiction classified as mental health disorder by WHO


FILE PHOTO: An attendee plays a video game at E3, the world's largest video game industry convention in Los Angeles, California, U.S. June 12, 2018. REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo

LONDON: Many parents already have concerns, but some may now have a new argument for limiting their children's 'screen time' – addiction to videogames has been recognised by World Health Organization as a mental health disorder. 

The WHO's International Classification of Diseases (ICD), a reference bible of recognised and diagnosable diseases, describes addiction to digital and videogaming as “a pattern of persistent or recurrent gaming behaviour” that becomes so extensive it “takes precedence over other life interests”. 

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