Digital Life · Gaming
Gaming, problem gaming, and gaming disorder
What is and isn't supported by the ICD-11 gaming disorder diagnosis, in plain language.
World Health Organization7 min read
The WHO added gaming disorder to ICD-11 in 2019, with deliberately narrow criteria designed to capture clinically significant impairment rather than enthusiasm. Their explainer is the clearest official source on what the diagnosis does and does not cover.
Worth reading before applying the term in everyday life. Treatment options are still developing; the most studied approach borrows from cognitive-behavioral models for substance use.
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A note on this article
Mental Hum publishes general education, not medical advice. If something here reflects your own experience, please consider speaking to a clinician. If you are in crisis, call or text 988.