Video Game Addiction Information
We gaming addicts have found within ourselves the commonly recognized characteristics of addiction:
- obsession
- continued use despite mounting problems
- compulsive repetition despite wanting to stop
- painful withdrawal symptoms when abstaining
- loss of control and inability to effectively moderate
- denial of problems and defensiveness
- hiding and lying about the behavior
Each of these is readily evident to the obsessive compulsive gamer who finally gets honest with him or herself, and to the family and friends who witness the downward spiral of gaming addiction.
Some recovered alcoholics and drug addicts have found that their dormant addictions reawakened and fully focused their obsessive and compulsive qualities on gaming. Despite years of recovery, some have returned to addiction’s distorted obsessive thinking, compulsive behavior, denial, withdrawal from life, problems with family and careers, poor decision-making, and neglect of health and relationships through compulsive gaming.
Many family members and friends of compulsive gamers have witnessed the downward spiral of personality changes, anger, denial, depression, withdrawal from life and relationships, and deterioration of health, career and education. When confronting the gamer, they are met with the same levels of anger, defensiveness, manipulation and denial that are common in drug and gambling addictions. They are left with no doubt that a powerful gripping condition is destroying the lives of their loved ones.
World Health Organization
Gaming disorder is defined in the 11th Revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) as a pattern of gaming behavior (“digital-gaming” or “video-gaming”) characterized by impaired control over gaming, increasing priority given to gaming over other activities to the extent that gaming takes precedence over other interests and daily activities, and continuation or escalation of gaming despite the occurrence of negative consequences.
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
Addiction to gaming is described in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR), which is used by mental health professionals to diagnose mental disorders. The condition is referred to as Internet Gaming Disorder.
The proposed symptoms of internet gaming disorder include:
- Preoccupation with gaming
- Withdrawal symptoms
- Tolerance
- Inability to reduce playing
- Giving up other activities
- Continuing to game despite problems
- Deceiving family members
- The use of gaming to relieve negative moods
- Risk, having jeopardized or lost a job or relationship due to gaming
ASAM Definition of Addiction
“Addiction is a primary, chronic disease of brain reward, motivation, memory and related circuitry. Dysfunction in these circuits leads to characteristic biological, psychological, social and spiritual manifestations. This is reflected in an individual pathologically pursuing reward and/or relief by substance use and other behaviors.
“Addiction is characterized by inability to consistently abstain, impairment in behavioral control, craving, diminished recognition of significant problems with one’s behaviors and interpersonal relationships, and a dysfunctional emotional response. Like other chronic diseases, addiction often involves cycles of relapse and remission. Without treatment or engagement in recovery activities, addiction is progressive and can result in disability or premature death.”
