Gaming Disorder Is Now In The International Classification of Diseases, But Is It Necessary?

We all knew that “gaming disorder” is a thing now ever since WHO has included it in the International Classification of Diseases 2018 just yesterday. It was announced and later confirmed that “gaming disorder” will be included in the big book of diseases January this year.

However, before we begin talking about this “gaming disorder”, first let us visit the definition and origins of what “game(s)” is. Game(s), was a man-made activity which was a form of entertainment when man had free-time on their hands and they were looking for something to entertain themselves. The invention of games have existed way before we were born, just like our Malaysian “congkak” or “batu seremban”.  But the oldest game that ever existed on this planet was found in 2600 BCE, over 4600 years ago, The Royal Game of Ur (further explained by Irving Finkel, if you are interested). It was created then when there’s probably less distractions or activities compared to current century, so a man’s gotta entertain themselves right?

So games, don’t just entertain people, they can be used to help people as well.

It’s not like mankind has changed much. We’re still walking on the same earth, going on our daily lives and trying to drown our misery with some form of entertainment, hoping to gain some happiness out of it or at least a cheer-up. Thus games as an entertainment has never been wrongly existed. Though some might argue that we don’t need games as an entertainment. True, but sports was never just a sport though – it started off as a “game” because just like sports, there’s always a winner.

As games or sports have goals, rules, challenges and interaction, it usually involves mental and physical stimulation. Most games actually help develop practical skills which serves as a form of exercise. Some may even use games or sports for educational purposes – to simulate or invoke the psychological part of the brain, i.e. art, creativity, critical thinking and so on. So games, don’t just entertain people, they can be used to help people as well.

However, because games have evolved over the years into electronic games, the perception towards games have changed as well. Games existed way back 4600 years ago, so was addiction – but probably longer than what we know. Till now, the issue with addiction still exists, so it’s not uncommon. Addiction is a disease that latches on like a parasite that leeches your life away as you spend most of your time on a particular object, substance or activity. It robs away our life, sometimes literally if you don’t have control – like how a workaholic could die of exhaustion if they don’t take a break once in a while.

 “Too much of anything isn’t good for anyone.” – Ray Bradbury, The Illustrated Man.

So with the understanding of where addiction can put their foot on, self-control is the keyword. There are many disorders that are already recorded in the International Classification of Diseases. Just like Impulse-Control Disorder (ICD), which is a class of psychiatric disorder that is characterized by impulsivity such as failure to resist a temptation, an urge, an impulse, or even the inability to not speak on a thought! So if you found anyone that just can’t keep their mouths shut before they draw someone’s last straw, would you categorize them as someone who has ICD?

Think about it, this “gaming disorder” is just a combination or impulsivity and lack of self-discipline or control as they mentioned it is a “manifestation in long periods of social isolation and there is a rigid pattern of behavior which the addict finds hard to break.” So wouldn’t the cure for it be not spend too much time on one activity?

As the saying goes, “Too much of anything isn’t good for anyone.” – Ray Bradbury, The Illustrated Man.

Time management and the ability to measure what is important, to put certain things first before something else, is the ability that some or even many of us are lacking. It exists and it’s not a disorder – it’s just a behavioral thing which has manifested to become a bad habit or a bad behavior. Or just some bad decision making skills.

But unfortunately, there’s no apparent measure to know if these certain unhealthy behaviors actually stem from gaming.

In an Irish times article, Dr. Colman Noctor, a child and adolescent psychotherapist said, “It is incredibly difficult to measure the impact of any gaming behaviour,” he said. “If there is violence or misbehaviour, do we know that is caused by gaming? A lot of pro-gaming people would challenge that.” – So how did “gaming disorder” come to exist if you can’t measure its existence?

This is not debating the fact that other mental illnesses and disorders actually aren’t real, they actually do exist. But the question is, how serious should a disorder be before it is recognized as an actual disorder. To my concern, an illness is something that is usually curable, except for cancer of course – but in some cases it was cured with medication, chemotherapy, a whole lot of family support and the will to live. So is “gaming disorder” curable though?

The answer is a hard “No.” Dr. Colman said, “…there was “no evidence base” that any medication would work in the case of gaming addiction.” Granted that there’s no actual “cure” for mental illnesses, only some medication to suppress the “disorder”. So is “gaming disorder” so serious that it needs medical or psychiatric attention? The point of bringing this “gaming disorder” into existence is to highlight the fact that people have succumb to games, making them anti-social, disrupting their not-so-healthy daily life, and igniting some violent behaviors.

But unfortunately, there’s no apparent measure to know if these certain unhealthy behaviors actually stem from gaming. So how is gaming necessary to be a “gaming disorder”?

All these could be coming from a pro-gaming person, but let’s all pause and think about it for a second. Is “gaming disorder” serious enough to be necessarily made into existence?

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