Is video-game addiction a mental disorder?

[Easy Bakes 253]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19354827/

Wait till they decide it a diease and not an addiction.

[Joesocwork 4]

Well clinically something is generally considered a "disorder" if it affects social functioning.

[coolotter88 2]

well, it certainly can be an addiction, I've heard of people addicted to RPGs who really, truly can't live without WoW or Everquest. Some have even died because they forget to eat.

[autoVino 26]

I know a person who used to be nice, calm, and in good shape.  After they got to video games and played for 12 hours a day, they became rude, loud, and very unhealthy.  It's sad, but true...

Video game addiction is a mental disorder.  I can understand one or two hours a day, but as they said in the article, 12 hours?  Ridiculous!  That's not normal.

[Glenni 1,444]

Luckily games like sim city ain't among these though.. For me, sc4 seems kinda like a hobby, yeah, a hobby, feels like it's more than just a game for me, it got depth.

[Micah 16]

If I remember correctly, a guy in Japan played a video game for 4 days straight (is that right?) without going to bed, but only getting food and going to the restroom. Anyway, he died the 4th day. That's what I call an addiction... and possibly a mental disorder, especially since he died.

[Glenni 1,444]

Also heard stories of people killing their friends because they are better at them on WoW

[hamsterTK 93]

as long as the ban-it-all bleeding heart types dont start messing with game companies and gamers, or if it ever becomes designated a disability, well then I think maybe not a bad thing somebody is looking at this

[Jazzmaster 716]

If they call it a dissordor and it gets out in the news parents of kids who play loads of games will probably go nuts.  You can tell by my name I play video-games (like Yoshi Island, of course).  Personally I think it's alright to play them and enjoy them, as long as you have other hobbies, like me and my model railroading/drawing.  Come to think of it, is Sim City a game, or something else related to Computer Software Entertainment?  Seems like more of a hobby simulator...

[Duke87 1,070]

You can become mentally addicted to anything... so games are no exception. That doesn't mean they're a bad thing, though.

[DOXXP29 5]

You haven't lived until you've driven with someone who drives like he's piloting a vehicle in a video game. Basically using the steering wheel as a game controller. Scary.

An obsession with a video game (or anything that affects social functioning as Joesocwork notes) would be considered a mental disorder. The extreme cases are when you have guys like the ones who "become" their Dungeons and Dragons" (or whatever game) character and start acting out. Then there are the ones who have no social relationshps other than those with other online gamers via internet with those interactions being totally game related. I guess that can be kinda cool for awhile, but one day these people have to grow up and start functioning in the real world. (Unless they're rich and have servants to perform all of life's functions.) If their exposure to real life has been put on hold for years, they're gonna have problems adjusting. This would be similar to someone who was drinking for years and in an alcoholic stupor while life went on. One day the guy sobers up and gets straight, but ten years have gone by and he didn't progress along with it. Little bit of a culture shock.

[MsD 0]

Originally posted by: DOXXP29 Then there are the ones who have no social relationshps other than those with other online gamers via internet with those interactions being totally game related. quote>

I resemble that remark.  LOL  I must have a mental condition.

[ILL Tonkso 1,236]

My girlfriend might agree that it is a disorder, she hates it :s

[Cjah 15]

MAN...I read this the other day and laughed....

A disorder....yes...I've met some DnD nerds...those guys need help....

but dieses...mental condition....thats an insult to any person who has played or picked up a video game controller...

if my parents or any other gamers parents would have heard something like this when I was at a younger age they probably would have removed my PS1 to "help" me.....

Also I'm one the gamers that could go the distance...

taking hour shifts of nothing but Zombie Killing...I love Resident Evil...

questing and saving a weird world..I played FF8,9,10 not as much as RE...

or just going around stealing cars...GTA 1 to 5....

I never ever took day sessions or "week" sessions like those guys in Asia.....

You know you have a disorder when the only thing you can say to your boss is your sorry for taking a whole week off to play online games....

[coolotter88 2]

tabletop games like DnD are hardcore. I went into a store that sold that stuff and they had a demo with people playing and all of them had tape measures and they had to roll like 50 dice each turn.

[JanYpe 17]

I never ever took day sessions or "week" sessions like those guys in Asia.....

You know you have a disorder when the only thing you can say to your boss is your sorry for taking a whole week off to play online games....quote>

But are video games really to blame then? It seems to me that anyone who would let themselves be caught up in a game for such an extended amount of time would already have an addictive personality, or some inherent aversion to work/society where they need an escape from reality.

[SpecialEddie 3]

What about forums, damn it!!!

[The_Dalai_Llama 15]

I agree anything can be addictive... games, food, drugs, sex, shopping, exercise, and on and on. Video games can be a problem for those who don't have self-control. I've seen two of my old roommates play WoW constantly, sometimes for 12+ hours on any given day.

But this story seems to be portrayed by the media as yet another downside to video games... but gaming has many positives, too. Games can be educational tools, can increase coordination and motor skills, and help introduce children to computers and technology.

[Gridlock 9]

Yup ,it messes you up good , you know you have a problem when the tunnel sydrome sets in , and your right hand begins to take a claw like feature..

[Cjah 15]

Originally posted by: Gridlock Yup ,it messes you up good , you know you have a problem when the tunnel sydrome sets in , and your right hand begins to take a claw like feature..quote>

 

What proof do you have of this...

I may have two index fingers which happen to be a bit crooked,but that due to the first nintendo's controller...not modern gaming or long terms of gaming.....

[aking88 7]

The best thing would be not to do anything at all, that way you'l stay safe

I think the content of videogames is more important than the concept of videogames in general. Ultimately i guess its about the responsibility of the parents to children how they perceive videogames and its content. But a good ratingsystem is important also (altough i personally have never been affected by the rating when choosing games).

Anyhow these discussions have been going on for so long now i dont think they will be any problem. Sure any objective knowledge about videogames is interesting. But wasnt there the same discussion about movies earlier but now its almost dead altough videos have more "explicit" content than ever before.

Id say the more people we have that have grown up with videogames themselves the more the negative attacks on videogames (not saying that this is neccesarely one) will die off.

___________________

Furthermore though, i need to give them support to the article to some point, becouse some videogames are to be better regulated if you ask me, im talking about MMO games.

I believe that MMO games are so socialy entagling and captivating, and they are for sure becouse the developers of such games often state themselves its their goal with them. These games i believe should need an approval from parents to play if you are under 18.

The thing is, its not easy for a parent to stop their game from playing and even less for a child to stop maybe when all the friends are playing too. If there where such an obligaton it would be easier for parents to take a standpoint, and if many youths have restricted play on such a game its easier for other youths to accept such imposement too.

Of course videogamecompanies aint gonna consider this themselves, i think there should be a law for it. becouse everyone under 18 cannot handle such a game and its impact on social and study life.

I can also consider some kind of warning text both on the box of suh games about how highly addictive they can be, as well as in game after playing for a certain amount of time non stop. Just like with smoking (at least here in Sweden there are warning texts on all tobaco products).

Lastly its also important to protect individual freedoms and freedom of expression (in games). So any measures taken against the possible negative parts of videogameculture should not restrict videogaming or its possible content, i dont think its needed anyway becouse bad videogames dont sell so...

[Micah 16]

The best thing would be not to do anything at all, that way you'l stay safe quote>

No, then you'll be addicted to not doing anything at all.

[Easy Bakes 253]

Originally posted by: Micah

The best thing would be not to do anything at all, that way you'l stay safe quote>

No, then you'll be addicted to not doing anything at all.

quote>

 

Like pot heads.

[Jazzmaster 716]

It's hard to just stop completely with addictions. In fact, it's almost impossible. I'm not going to hide it; hobby or not, I've been playing way too much SC4 lately. It said in the article on MSNBC.com that people under stress or who are going through a lot tend to play excessively. Could be something to do with my mom getting remaried and me moving up to East Lake, Tarpon Springs, eh? Anyways, tommorow I won't be online or playing Sim City. I'm doing sort of an "experiment", or "test", if you prefer. If I can make it through a day without Sim City clouding my mind and making me crave it, in other words, I don't feel I "need it", than I'm fine and can proceed to playing again (less of course). I really don't think I'm addicted, but it never hurts to check...

[Joesocwork 4]

Usually one of the best ways for someone who has questions about if something has become a harmful addiction is to solicit feedback from people they trust in Real Life that can give honest nonjudgemental observations and then start to make inquiries fr RL professionals about potential thoughts and observations.

[ACEfanatic 7]

Um... wait a second.

Video games in and of themselves are not addictive. If someone is dependent on games, then he/she probably had the dependency issue to begin with, which is merely manifesting itself through excessive gaming.

So video game addiction would be a symptom, not a disorder.

-ACE

[the_new_simman 5]

I wouldn't classify it separately, but it indeed can be an addiction. All in all, if one person is addicted to an MMO like WoW to the point that they never leave their room there is a problem. The problem is not "Video game Addiction" it may be other disorders such as "Social Anxiety" or "Depression". Video game Addiction is just a side-effect to a greater problem and should not be classified separately.

[Barbarossa 51]

Addiction is a mental disorder. It doesn't matter if it is gaming, gambling, cigarettes, or alcohol. Some people are more prone to addiction and they have to fight it all their lives. Addiction is the key. Everyone has some level of addiction, genetically. It is all a matter of how strong that addiction is.

I know about a some guy (in Korea) who died because he wouldn't stop playing Starcraft. He was awake for days and it killed him. Everyone needs sleep, and everyone needs food. But addiction often does not allow it.

How long will it be before publishers are forced to put a warning on games... "Gaming can be addictive, please take a break for Real Life"...

EDIT:  Many people have probably seen game publishers put this in manuals, but I'm talking about "on the box", much like cigarettes...

Barbarossa

[Jazzmaster 716]

Well, I'm back, and happy to report I'm not addicted! Went for a bike-ride, walked a while, drew a train, played Paper Mario. It's nice to take a break anyways, ya' know?

[coolotter88 2]

xD, you played paper mario though...That was an awesome game