Late last year, the World Health Organization announced the proposed inclusion of two gaming related disorders: the aptly named "gaming disorder", and the ominous "hazardous gaming". They are meant to convey conditions in which playing a video game takes precedence over other life activities in an unhealthy manner that could lead to social, physical, or physiological loss.
Today, the Entertainment Software Association issued a statement in response to the WHO's draft revision of its upcoming International Compendium of Diseases. According to them, the WHO's proposal “recklessly trivializes real mental health issues”.
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The ESA counts pretty much every major developer as part of its member list, and therefore considers itself the voice of the US video game industry. As such, it puts video game players on the same level of "avid sports fans and consumers of all forms of engaging entertainment", defending them as "passionate and dedicated with their time”. Furthermore, it says: "The World Health Organization knows that common sense and objective research prove video games are not addictive. And, putting that official label on them recklessly trivializes real mental health issues like depression and social anxiety disorder, which deserve treatment and the full attention of the medical community. We strongly encourage the WHO to reverse direction on its proposed action."
WHO's newest International Compendium of Diseases (ICD-11) is scheduled to release mid-2018.
