Sunday, June 24, 2007

Video games addiction 'a mental disorder'

Compulsive video game playing should be officially declared a psychiatric disorder and treated as such, according to a proposal to be debated by the American Medical Association tomorrow. If it were classified as a mental illness health insurance companies would be forced to pay for treatment.

Backers of the proposal say being hooked on computer games can be as dangerous and devastating as heroin addiction and the disorder should have its own entry in the authoritative guide to mental disorders published by the American Psychiatric Association.

The video games industry rejects the notion its products can cause a psychiatric disorder. It says the claim lacks any scientific backing. Even some mental health experts believe classing the pastime as a formal addiction is a step too far.

Up to 90 per cent of American youngsters play video games and as many as 15 per cent - up to five million children - might be addicted, says an AMA report.

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