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Video Game Addiction Classified As A Disease

Brendan O'Loughlin
Brendan O'Loughlin

12:03 28 May 2019


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Video game addiction is now an official disease.

The World Health organisation has identified it as:

"Excessive or compulsive use of computer or video games, to the point that it affects a person's daily life".

All 194 members of the WHO have agreed on this, and it will come into effect on 1st January 2022.

The decision has faced opposition from the gaming industry, with some arguing the issue needs more research.

The incoming president of the Psychological Society of Ireland believes video gaming should not be classified as an addiction.

Psychologist Mark Smyth said he is "disappointed" by the announcement.

"They have ignored most of the scholars who have worked in this area.

There is a real lack of evidence that this diagnosis actually exists", he said.

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