Gaming Disorder Disability: Video Game Addiction (VGA)

Ian C. Langtree - Writer/Editor for Disabled World (DW)
Published: 2021/12/08 - Updated: 2024/06/01
Publication Type: Gaming
Topic: Accessible Games and Gaming - Publications List

Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main

Synopsis: Information regarding video game addiction, a problematic, compulsive use of video games resulting in significant inability to function in various life domains over a prolonged period of time. Video game addiction is a global phenomenon and can lead to poorer grades in school and serious psychological problems, including depression, anxiety, and social phobia.

Introduction

According to ABC News, parents have many concerns about their children playing video games, including concerns about age appropriateness, the amount of time spent playing games, physical health, and aggressive behavior. There have also been at least a few deaths caused directly by exhaustion from playing games for excessive periods of time.

Main Item

Video game addiction (VGA), (gaming disorder, internet gaming disorder, problematic online gaming), is generally defined as the problematic, compulsive use of video games that results in significant impairment to an individual's ability to function in various life domains over a prolonged period of time. To be considered a pathological gamer, the person has to be experiencing disabling damage to several areas of their life, including areas like school, social, family, occupational, and psychological functioning.

Some theories regarding video game addiction disability focus on the presumed built-in reward systems of video games to explain their potentially addictive nature. The anticipation of such rewards can create a neurological reaction that releases dopamine into the body, so that once the reward is obtained, the person will remember it as a pleasurable feeling. This has been found to be similar to the neurological reaction of other behavioral addictions such as substance abuse and gambling disorder, although not to the same magnitude and with some differences.

It must be noted here that many people play video games every day, and many people prefer them to linear entertainment like TV shows and movies. Just because a person spends his or her free time gaming does not mean he or she has gaming disorder. The habit must have clear negative consequences for the person's life to qualify as a disorder - or disability.

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Gaming illustration of a human head wearing futuristic gaming goggles.
Gaming illustration of a human head wearing futuristic gaming goggles.
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Gaming Disorder a Verifiable Mental Health Condition

The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies "gaming disorder" as a verifiable mental health condition.

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.

The International Classification of Diseases (ICD) is the basis for identification of health trends and statistics globally and the international standard for reporting diseases and health conditions. It is used by medical practitioners around the world to diagnose conditions and by researchers to categorize conditions.

The WHO describes gaming disorder as having three distinct traits:

Video game addiction is a global phenomenon and can lead to poorer grades in school and serious psychological problems, including depression, anxiety, and social phobia.

Symptoms May Include:

Problem gambling, depression, social withdrawal, playing video games for extremely long periods of time.

Complications Can Include:

Mood disorders, depression, somatization, sleep disturbances, obesity, anxiety disorders.

Frequency:

1 to 3% of those who play video games - (Wikipedia).

Risk Factors Include:

Preexisting mental disorder (ADHD, OCD, compulsive behavior, conduct disorder, depression, behavioral inhibition), personality traits (neuroticism, impulsivity, aggressiveness), younger people, male gender.

APA Criteria for Characterizing Proposed Internet Gaming Disorder

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) has said there is not "sufficient evidence" to consider gaming addiction as a "unique mental disorder." While the APA does not recognize video game addiction as a disorder, in light of existing evidence, the organization included video game addiction as a "condition requiring further study" in the DSM-5 as Internet gaming disorder.

Related Information

Author Credentials: Ian was born and grew up in Australia. Since then, he has traveled and lived in numerous locations and currently resides in Montreal, Canada. Ian is the founder, a writer, and editor in chief for Disabled World. Ian believes in the Social Model of Disability, a belief developed by disabled people in the 1970s. The social model changes the focus away from people's impairments and towards removing barriers that disabled people face daily. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and achievements, .

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Citing and References

Founded in 2004, Disabled World (DW) is a leading resource on disabilities, assistive technologies, and accessibility, supporting the disability community. Learn more on our About Us page.

Cite This Page: Disabled World. (2021, December 8 - Last revised: 2024, June 1). Gaming Disorder Disability: Video Game Addiction (VGA). Disabled World (DW). Retrieved May 2, 2025 from www.disabled-world.com/entertainment/games/gaming-disorder.php

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