According to the World Health Organization (WHO), from January 1, 2022, excessive addiction to computer games, which grew into gambling addiction, officially received the status of a disease and was included in the ICD-11 classifier of diseases (international classification of diseases 11 revision) as addictive behavior disorder.
WHO believes that gambling disorder is characterized by a pattern of persistent or repetitive involvement with computer (digital) and video games, which can occur online and offline, and also has the following symptoms:
violation of control over the game (for example, onset, frequency, intensity, duration, cessation, context);
raising the priority of games to the extent that games take precedence over other vital interests and daily activities;
continuation or escalation of games, despite the occurrence of negative consequences.
The gambling pattern can be continuous, episodic, and repetitive. The disease results in persistent stress or significant disruption in personal, family, social, educational, professional, or other important areas of life. Gambling addiction and related disorders usually manifest themselves over a period of at least 12 months before a diagnosis is made. This period can be shortened if the doctor considers that all diagnostic requirements have been met and the current symptoms are severe.
A WHO expert warns that a diagnosis of play disorder can only be made by professional doctors. WHO does not strongly advise anyone to diagnose this disease on their own in relation to, for example, their relatives or friends, since this is the prerogative of doctors.
Russian doctors believe that excessive interest in computer games by children and adolescents is fraught with not only gambling addiction, but also negative consequences for their health, for example, deterioration of vision, curvature of the spine, insomnia, the appearance of increased irritability and aggression.
WHO experts believe that most people who play computer games for several days a year or with breaks do not experience gambling addiction. They found that playing video games for a longer period of time, such as playing for a week in a row without stopping, can already lead to adverse consequences.
Since 2017, the WHO has planned to add gambling addiction to the ICD-11 as a form of mental disorder. In 2019, the WHO also refined concepts such as gambling disorder and gambling addiction more precisely. The ICD-11 classifier entered into force on January 1, 2022.
The Ministry of Health plans to introduce the ICD-11 classifier in Russia until 2024. Technically, after this moment it will be possible to get a diagnosis of gambling addiction on the sick-list.
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