Is video-game addiction a mental disorder? (825 hits)
Category: Computers & InternetRating: 0.7 on 29 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by St_Jimmy (View user info) at 2007-06-22 18:17:40 EDT
The full article http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19354827/
Is video-game addiction a mental disorder?
AP- Chicago
CHICAGO - The telltale signs are ominous: teens holing up in their rooms, ignoring friends, family, even food and a shower, while grades plummet and belligerence soars.
The culprit isn't alcohol or drugs. It's video games, which for certain kids can be as powerfully addictive as heroin, some doctors contend.
A leading council of the nation's largest doctors' group wants to have this behavior officially classified as a psychiatric disorder, to raise awareness and enable sufferers to get insurance coverage for treatment.
In a report prepared for the American Medical Association's annual policy meeting starting Saturday in Chicago, the council asks the group to lobby for the disorder to be included in a widely used mental illness manual created and published by the American Psychiatric Association. AMA delegates could vote on the proposal as early as Monday.
It likely won't happen without heated debate. Video game makers scoff at the notion that their products can cause a psychiatric disorder. Even some mental health experts say labeling the habit a formal addiction is going too far.
Up to 90 percent of American youngsters play video games and as many as 15 percent of them — more than 5 million kids — may be addicted, according to data cited in the AMA council's report.
Joyce Protopapas of Frisco, Texas, said her 17-year-old son, Michael, was a video addict. Over nearly two years, video and Internet games transformed him from an outgoing, academically gifted teen into a reclusive manipulator who flunked two 10th grade classes and spent several hours day and night playing a popular online video game called World of Warcraft.
"My father was an alcoholic ... and I saw exactly the same thing" in Michael, Protopapas said. "We battled him until October of last year," she said. "We went to therapists; we tried taking the game away.
"He would threaten us physically. He would curse and call us every name imaginable," she said. "It was as if he was possessed."
When she suggested to therapists that Michael had a video game addiction, "nobody was familiar with it," she said. "They all pooh-poohed it."
Last fall, the family found a therapist who "told us he was addicted, period." They sent Michael to a therapeutic boarding school, where he has spent the past six months — at a cost of $5,000 monthly that insurance won't cover, his mother said.
Overuse most often occurs with online role-playing games involving multiple players, the report says. Blizzard Entertainment's teen-rated, monster-killing World of Warcraft is among the most popular. A company spokesman declined to comment on whether the games can cause addiction.
A woman in the New Haven, Conn., area who bought the game for her 15-year-old son last year, says he got hooked on it.
"Now that I look back on it, it's like I went out and bought him his first Jack Daniel's," said the 49-year-old woman who didn't want her name used to spare her son from ridicule.
Dr. Karen Pierce, a psychiatrist at Chicago's Children's Memorial Hospital, said she sees at least two children a week who play video games excessively.
"I saw somebody this week who hasn't been to bed, hasn't showered ... because of video games," she said. "He is really a mess."
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In summation, a council wants the AMA to classify video game addiction right up there with alcoholism, heroin addiction, etc. as a genuine psychiatric disorder.
How interesting! At first, I thought What the Fuck!? A heroin addict and a video gamer aren't even in the same sport, let alone the same ballpark. This is ridiculous! Just another attempt to coddle kids and adults with that "It's not your fault" bullshit.
However, addiction doesn't have to be substance dependent. Sure, you can get addicted to alcohol, tobacco, heroin, etc. But, the mental health community has also recognized addiction to activities such as sex addiction, gambling, shopping, etc.
So, if you can be addicted to activities in which you compulsively behave, couldn't someone be genuinely addicted to video games?
I'm honestly not sure myself, but I tend to think it's probably bullshit.
User Reviews
Submitted by DarthFaded (user info) at 2007-06-25 17:31:25 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Zerg Pwn Protoss....
Submitted by DirtyHarry (user info) at 2007-06-25 10:46:45 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Moderation in all things.
Auto Protoss +2
Submitted by TheUniter (user info) at 2007-06-25 07:54:14 EDT (#)
Ranking: -1
Submitted by d_prime (user info) at 2007-06-25 01:11:39 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
http://www.ubersite.com/m/109527#2451694
A positive comment in its own way.
Submitted by matchstickman (user info) at 2007-06-23 19:56:28 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Somebody's never played WoW
Submitted by SgtHartman (user info) at 2007-06-23 11:03:22 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Progr3ss (user info) at 2007-06-22 21:41:56 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Submitted by SgtHartman (user info) at 2007-06-23 09:21:23 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I like peanut butter cups
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I found a store in my city that sells said cups, and I'd love to try them because I love peanut butter.
It's just too bad that I developed an allergy to peanuts last year.
I know most people acquire the allergy whilst in their childhood, and so never know the simple pleasures of beer and peanuts with sport, or whatever... but to be a grown man and become afflicted with this injustice!
It's an outrage sir!!!
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dear god my good man, I can honestly say that I feel for you. TO never taste the sweet nectar that is the Reeses Peanut Butter Cup is truly a tragedy worthy of Homer himself. I shed a tear for you brother.
Submitted by guitarjunky421 (user info) at 2007-06-23 02:20:04 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
video game addiction doesn't sound so bad I look at it like this, these fat and lazy "addicts" will eventually grow into fat and lazy adults. Then when society crumbles and the end of the world is nigh they will be the first to die and then we can all feast on their flesh.
Submitted by ilikesteak (user info) at 2007-06-22 23:57:09 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Pretty soon they'll call chronic masturbation a disorder.
Submitted by hylian_knight3 (user info) at 2007-06-22 22:47:26 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
tis not an addiction, more of something to do because sometimes, its the only thing fun to do
Submitted by Wildman (user info) at 2007-06-22 22:11:16 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Yes, it's also called: El Limpo Dicko
Submitted by Progr3ss (user info) at 2007-06-22 21:41:56 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Submitted by SgtHartman (user info) at 2007-06-23 09:21:23 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I like peanut butter cups
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I found a store in my city that sells said cups, and I'd love to try them because I love peanut butter.
It's just too bad that I developed an allergy to peanuts last year.
I know most people acquire the allergy whilst in their childhood, and so never know the simple pleasures of beer and peanuts with sport, or whatever... but to be a grown man and become afflicted with this injustice!
It's an outrage sir!!!
Submitted by The_Drake (user info) at 2007-06-22 21:00:41 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No. it is not.
Submitted by Lambchop (user info) at 2007-06-22 20:29:51 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I'd rather my kids be addicted to video games than to be snorting coke off a hooker's asscrack.
Submitted by apollo88 (user info) at 2007-06-22 20:16:49 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
certain people have a proclivity for addiction. The substance or activity is irrelevant it's the actuality of being addicted that is the key.
Submitted by d_prime (user info) at 2007-06-22 20:00:04 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
I don't think addiction to video games is really *about* video games. I think it's a matter of the rest of your life being so unsatisfying that you need to, so that they aren't the key issue.
I'm a serious gamer, and I've had my periods where I've been "addicted," but it's always less a matter of liking games more and really a matter of being bored with the rest of my life. Which fortunately isn't the case right now.
I also believe we need to draw a very careful distinction between a literal addiction and merely spending a lot of time gaming because it's entertaining and stimulating. There's more to it than time spent.
Submitted by darko (user info) at 2007-06-22 19:30:50 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
certain games, like coin operated or monthly fee based, are designed solely with the purpose being to keep the player hooked as long as possible. Being addicting is exactly what the developers are going for.
Submitted by SgtHartman (user info) at 2007-06-22 19:21:23 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I like peanut butter cups
Submitted by rob_berg (user info) at 2007-06-22 19:19:21 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
oh... and 'addiction' is just a fancy word for a lack of self-control.
Submitted by bart (user info) at 2007-06-22 19:18:51 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
No
Submitted by rob_berg (user info) at 2007-06-22 19:14:45 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
The human race is weak and easily distracted.
I likes eggs.
Submitted by Wompom (user info) at 2007-06-22 19:10:16 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Humans can become addicted to anything. ANYTHING.
Submitted by St_Jimmy (user info) at 2007-06-22 18:47:30 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Wonder how much $ the Smith& Jones GAMESTERDAM will set you back.
Probably enough for about 30 years of WoW play.
Submitted by SgtHartman (user info) at 2007-06-22 18:40:19 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
or pussy, honest to god steady hot steamy ass, qin most cases cures a video game addiction
you'll still play, just not as much
Submitted by darko (user info) at 2007-06-22 18:38:56 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
What we do for gamers
The Smith& Jones GAMESTERDAM clinic is the first residential treatment facility in the world that is specialised in and focused on treating people who's lives have become unmanageable as a result of their on or offline video gaming behaviour.
Obsessive/ compulsive gaming can control a person's life. Gaming addiction has all of the negative effects and consequences that a drug and alcohol addiction has. Sadly, gaming addiction destroys quietly. Most people don't get help and live in denial. Unless properly treated, gaming addiction is a serious problem that can eventually cause irreversible damage.
The gamers themselves cannot or will not see the extent of the problem. Family members and friends often cannot understand why such an intelligent person seems to be throwing their life away.
Because gaming addiction is a new phenomenon, the denial and destruction can be even greater than with chemical dependency.
We offer the following services for these people and their families;
Intervention
An intervention is the intensive procedure that we do to help a person that may be in need of help do three things. These are: See they have a problem, admit they have a problem and ask for help. We provide intervention services in Amsterdam or on location.
Residential treatment
Sometimes a short time away from home and away from the possibility to game can be the most effective course to take.
The residential course runs year round in Amsterdam and admission is possible quickly.
Weekend treatment
The weekend course is the best way to get a short and intense burst of information and help for possible gaming addiction. The weekend course can be a low threshold opportunity to give you the tools needed to get the gaming under control or as an entry point to further treatment if needed.
The next weekend course will be held on December 28-29-30, 2006.
Outdoor camps
Gamesterdam facilitates outdoor activity camps in Holland, Belgium and Kenya. These camps are unique in the world and offer a combination of intense therapeutic treatment and self esteem building activities that can provide the problem gamer with the basis to live a life of victory over gaming addiction.
The next 2 camps will be run in Belgium in January 2007. The camps run for 7 days each time.
Individual and family counselling
We offer individual and family counselling in Amsterdam and London.
Contact us now at info.at.smithandjones.nl
Submitted by frankthebear (user info) at 2007-06-22 18:36:52 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
there is only one cure for video game addiction known to man: The Sword of 1000 Truths!
Submitted by darko (user info) at 2007-06-22 18:32:35 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
http://www.smithandjones.nl/frameset.htm?page=/do.htm
Submitted by FilthyAssistant (user info) at 2007-06-22 18:32:02 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Medical condition = treatment = rise in profits. If you buy the disease you can also buy the cure. Case in point, albeit in an unrelated field: Philip Morris.
Submitted by SgtHartman (user info) at 2007-06-22 18:31:30 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
but by the same token, you can be addicted to anything, anything can be taken to the extreme like that. So if thats the case I could find you a case that said anything "could" be addicting, it doesnt mean that the majority of people will be. I mean hell I know a dude thats addicted to fucking Afrin.(what a cockknocker by the way). So I say play on kids, play on.
Submitted by DCWoody (user info) at 2007-06-22 18:27:40 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
It is, apparently very possible indeed to become addicted to WOW.