Internet Gaming Disorder in DSM-5

We've seen the evidence over the ages. Psychiatry and the mental health industry cashing in on made up rubbish. All of these pseudo disorders are due to Behaviors. IE you dont do what we dont want you to do so we will punish you with a disorder. It was slavery, its was homosexuality, it was hysteria, countless made up rubbish. Real scientists dont make up crap like that. Its time we all decide that Psychiatry is the disorder of being judgmental about other people and supplying politics and government with the tools to label people that dont conform to their liking. Get rid of psychiatry it harms and devalues medicine although the latter is becoming more and more pseudo scientific.

i need the diagnosis...

> scrolls threw the page > goes back to play some more games >

This makes a ton of sense. It may sound silly, because its a completely new concept, but addiction is addiction. If you have met someone who traded in their life for a fictional one, you'll stop laughing pretty quickly.

Now... I find this to be the most elaborate and erroneous crap I have ever heard of. First of all, research showed where those that played video games were MORE intelligent and strategic than those who did NOT. Next studies stated that it kept muscles in the hands moving making it LESS likely to get arthritis. You all need to STOP playing with these people's minds and trying to make more money off of them by taking things that they enjoy. The world of Psychiatry is literally sucking the life out of people. They can't laugh, that's a disorder. Too happy, that's a disorder. Love being with a mate. THAT'S a disorder. Stop trying to play God and LET these people live their lives as they choose to without YOUR added confusion and BS.

Excuse me everyone.... GO LIVE YOUR LIVES AND ENJOY IT TO THE FULLEST. ENJOY WHAT IT IS THAT YOU'RE DOING THAT MAKES YOU HAPPY. DON'T LET THESE BRAINWASHERS FOOL YOU. They're ALL full of crap.

The Scientist.

The sad aggressive posts above show the thoughts of addicts. If they are trolls they are still just imitating the behaviors of addicts. They should seek the attention of licensed therapists in their areas.

As someone who has a degree in psychology, and also owns a very successful online business in the gaming field, I have to say this article is by far one of the most ignorant ones I have ever seen on Psychology Today.

Yes, there are teens and even adults who spend way too much time in online games and virtual worlds. Yes, that can have a very negative impact on their lives. But, most of the symptoms posted here hold very little fact and are imo just ignorant.

For alot of people, gaming and specifically online gaming IS a hobby. Yes, it is something many do to relax and step away from the stresses life sometimes brings. How is that any different than someone who draws to relax, or reads a book to relax? For the average gamer, it's not at all.

People can become addicted to literally anything, and that is the issue, not games itself.

It is actually embarrassing that this non factual and ignorant article is even on Psychology Today.

look into female phone and social media addiction. If you can't find a husband or your son(s) are ignoring you, well that's just too bad. We're busy, and you should get a life.

OK then, there should be Book Addiction disorder, TV Addiction disorder, Car/Transport Addiction disorder....
No, really ? I understand that making Gaming Addiction a disorder will grant you lots of money, but where is your logic ? Why you do not pay attention on real problems and ignore them, but trying to hide that problems behind illogical diseases which will be refused in couple of years ?
They did not even pay attention why human want to hide from reality and find other ways to live (not as Psychologists say them) and same way people are addicted with TV, Sports, Hobbies, Books...

I once read a few years ago the dsm 5 that they put down discord disorder -meaning having an argument with the therapist . notice how many disorders increase over many years, by the pharmaceuticals companies to profit by telling people they're crazy. having an argument because of differences of thinking is normal. being drugged up for no reason is not.

This article from NCBI might assist in this article a bit in understanding better where the behavioral health community is coming from in that: "...We agree with Starcevic that “addictive disorders are generally chronic and progressive, if not treated” (p. 2) and that the onset of excessive gaming can be episodic and transient. However, in cases such as this, the behavior should not be described as an addiction. Our own previous papers have specifically noted that some gamers can play very excessively without experiencing any major problems and that while all genuine gaming addictions are problematic, not all problematic gamers have an addiction (Griffiths, 2010b)." NCBI's, "DSM-5 diagnosis of Internet Gaming Disorder: Some ways forward in overcoming issues and concerns in the gaming studies field"

As a therapist, many of the client's that are seen here, we try to focus on the behavior and why they are concluding the whole of their day online instead of real life. Accountability and moderation are the key as well as understanding why a person chooses this life style. Is this as harmful for a single person who lives in a remote area, or an area that they are not comfortable roaming alone outside to, i.e. serving overseas (how many military active duty folks who are gamers and they use gaming as a way of self-care from their daily activities to take a 'mental break.') verses, someone who has family life responsibilities (i.e. single parent who works two jobs, is emotionally and physically exhausted when they get home to then care for their children's needs) and uses online gaming to connect with other people, on an emotional level, for self-care and it's more economical than social events. Lastly, how would we compare those lifestyle of someone in both of those previously stated scenarios to where they withdrew from an active outdoor lifestyle with family and friends to where they only go to work, then stay at home and will only get up to sit at a desk for the entirety of their waking hours de-voiding themselves of any human contact outside of work. If we apply the Feminism Theory to take in the entirety of the culture and subculture of each person and they, 'why's,' and time that they spend on the internet, how would it compare to the decades of, 'book worms' and, 'workaholics'? Is what they are doing harming themselves and others? Are they introverts naturally and why? This is a very new field of study, and I hope that we can conclude the results so that we can assist those who are asking for assistance when they say, 'how did I get here?' and, 'I want my family back.' Thank you for this article.

I am honestly shocked by the number of negative comments on this post - I understand that people enjoy gaming and use it as a relaxing hobby. However, they are not stating this disorder as fact; it needs more research hence it has been put in the final section of the DSM for psychologists to look into.

If something affects your ability to socialise and function normally then it can be considered a disorder. We can't put aside one of the definitions of abnormality 'failure to function adequately' - if you cannot function as a normal person would then you are considered abnormal. If a person spends all of their time gaming rather than socialising, cleaning, washing, going to work etc, it is considered abnormal and an addiction.

I don't believe that this is just psychiatrists wanting to make more money as they actually want to help people - that's why they went into the profession in the first place.

We also cannot forget that psychology is a very new science and we are discovering more and more every day. I think that lots of people are scared of change and so disagree with the idea that new disorders are developing due to social media and technology. I think we all need to look ahead to where psychology is going to be over the next thirty+ years and look into the possibility of new disorders so that we can treat them effectively.

I may be wrong, but I am disgusted by the idea that someone previously in the comments would be so misogynistic to say: 'look into female phone and social media addiction. If you can't find a husband or your son(s) are ignoring you, well that's just too bad. We're busy, and you should get a life.' I'd just like to point out that men and women can both have social media and gaming addictions and that men are not superior to women in this aspect particularly.

As a psychology student, I would like to learn more about this topic so please send me your thoughts. I would like sensible, positive and negative ideas towards this disorder so I can learn more about the topic. Thank you!

Consider this, many people among us now is successful but what is really mean by the success?? From the beginning there is no such field which is already in default or dormant. We discovered it! What is my point here? my point of view here is we are all in the time of developing ourselves we fill our own desires and needs, who knows whats good or bad, are we over acting or not? This one field of experience is opening for our children. Maybe now we are Doctors, Engineers, Soldiers, Pilots, Designers, President, Politicians, Artist, Singers, etc... Those are not the only professions which we consider good in the society as a people. Yes maybe Gamers are sometimes frustrated and sometimes can cause fights (fights in real life), misunderstanding, quarrels, disappointment, downs, up's , success and smiles..... aren't this are the feelings when we starts our own dreams even before there is no Internets and gadgets?? the world is changing we need to accept that sometimes, the thing or the goal or dream that we want for our children or love ones are not what they desire.. and we need to accepts that this Generation is the outcome of something we did in our generation. We are the one who need to be blamed. And GAMING is now a profession and they were called GAMERS and they palying Esports . And if you want to success on it, you need to play hard, but it will never be a disorder. Thank you

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There is a typo in the last bullet point. I believe you meant to say "...put at risk an opportunity or relationship...", not "...put at risk and opportunity or relationship..."

It honestly seems like a coping mechanism in people with depression, anxiety, PTSD, OCD & ASD. It is an escape for sure. Sucks when you start to feel even more stress from not being able to get that "escape" and when you do, the gaming community is so toxic nowadays that its like you need an escape from your escape.