Description: Have you heard anybody say that they think they might be addicted to video games? Have you wondered that about yourself? At least you certainly heard some mention in the media of the possibility of young people becoming addicted to video games. The question of whether video games ought to be included in the diagnostic and statistical manual as a genuine addiction was debated at length prior to the release of the fifth edition of the DSM. Read this article and then reflect on what your view on this matter might be.

Source: When Video Games Become and Addiction, Vital Signs, CNN, Samantha Bresnahan and Will Worley

The psychologist interviewed as part of the beauty article linked above takes the position that it is possible for someone to become addicted to video gaming. Considering whether or not to include Internet Gaming Disorder as a diagnostic category within the DSM when work was underway on the recently released fifth edition was quite intense. In the end it was decided to include Internet Gaming Disorder as a “Condition for Further Study” in the DSM and that the American Psychiatric Association would request additional research on this question. In reflecting on this decision it is important to look closely to see how addiction is defined and also to look closely at the research focusing upon whether or not Internet gaming meets the criteria for acceptable definition of addiction. The article linked above discusses some of these criteria and more information can be gathered from the additional links below if you want to look at this matter a little more deeply.

Questions for Discussion:

Do you think that Internet Gaming Disorder should be included as a type of addiction within the DSM and within our efforts through research and clinical practice to understand the behaviour of serious gamers?

What sort of evidence have you noted that supports or that argues against your answer to the previous question?

What criteria would a pattern of behaviour need to meet if it were to be considered seriously for inclusion within the DSM as a disorder reflecting and addiction?