Chicago (IL) – Doctors belonging to the American Medical Association will vote on whether Internet and video game addiction is a real disease.  The vote will take place at the AMA national meeting next week in Chicago and could usher in an age where World of Warcraft addicts are given drugs to curb their desires.

The vote was spearheaded by Doctor Mohamed Khan with the AMA’s Council on Science and Pubilc Health.  Khan authored a study called “Emotional and Behavioral Effects, Including Addictive Potential, of Video Games” and recommended that Internet/video game addiction be added as a formal diagnostic disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV (DSM-IV).  Since the American Psychiatric Association (APA) is responsible for additions to the DSM-IV, its members will have their own vote, once the vote passes the AMA.

Khan also recommended that parents should allow their children to be in front of television and computer screens for a maximum of one to two hours a day.  Video game time would be included in that amount.

Classifying Internet and video game addiction as a formal disorder would allow drug companies to manufacture drugs specifically for the disorder.  The companies could also retarget marketing of preexisting drugs to addicted gamers.  Methadone treatment for World of Warcraft players could be just around the corner.

Either way...

Jun 21, 2007 09:37     

Glad I'm the dad in my house.
Jack O'Neill report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Great. Now we will see more drug commercial adds fo...

Jun 21, 2007 10:05     

Great. Now we will see more drug commercial adds for video game addiction. As if we don't have enough adds already.
nigel report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Addiction?

Jun 21, 2007 10:08     

One would probably be amazed to what one could be addicted to. The key would be moderation and not over do any one thing.
TomLeeM report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Agree

Jun 21, 2007 11:12     

Too many drugs already.
enewmen report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

bigger picture

Jun 21, 2007 11:41     

I definately believe that people can be addictied to video games; as a former wow player myself I was definately addicted. However I think these studies are not being broad enough. I think that there are people with addictive personalities who could become addicted to anything. Be it drugs alcahol, or food. Television/games are just another form of brain stimulant.
Bigredmeanie report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Can we just call Addiction a desires?

Jun 21, 2007 12:15     

Some people just have addictive personality's. They can get addicted to anything, food, drinking, games, drugs, you name it. Why does there have to be a separate category for ever type?
James Jones report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Sorta Good

Jun 21, 2007 12:36     

Kudos to the AMA for taking a first step towards realizing that video games can be addictive. That being said, drugs are not the answer here and in fact, they rarely are for any addiction. Also, 1-2 hours a day is pretty low. Maybe if that's an average, where some days you don't play and others you play 3-4 hours.
gm0n3y report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Yes!!!

Jun 21, 2007 12:54     

Vote it in... then I can sit home and game and call it a sick day!
AOEVIPER report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

No.

Jun 21, 2007 13:25     

Games aren't addictive, they're just entertaining and fun. If they were truly addictive, then you'd see people having physical withdrawal symptoms when they quit... just like with smoking, alcohol, or more potent drugs. This sounds like doctors trying to make more money off the stupidity of the general public.
buk report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Multiple types of additions

Jun 21, 2007 13:54     

Not all addictions are physical additions. Some are simply psychological. Hence, there is not a need for a physical depency like seen with the DTs and alcohol. You can see cases where people completely stop functioning except for the game. Quit school, lose job, don't bath, abandon all their RL friends, etc.. etc.. etc... This is also not all about drugs. This can also cover other forms of treatment such as treatment centers that only allow PONG.

Yes not No report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

i agree

Jun 21, 2007 14:05     

yes
nick report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Sad

Jun 21, 2007 14:12     

I think it's sad how our society has gone this far as to relable lack of self control as "addiction"
twolf2003 report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

I call shenanigans!

Jun 21, 2007 16:38     

The authenticity of American Medical Association's desire to help people rank right up there with Scientology's. I declare that AMA (and Scientology) - for their love of money - are evil. They have an agenda to deceive people into believing they have a disease that can only be treated for a price. I for one don't buy into any of their lies. It's your own fault if you can't exercise self control and moderation. No drug can change your choices. To think otherwise is foolish. I pity the man who perpetuates the problems of this world by blindly follow the wolf in sheep's clothing.

indrid report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

oh shut up, indrid

Jun 21, 2007 18:08     

Your "blame the victim" mentality is so cliche and altogether lazy thinking. Raw ignorance. It's unfortunate for us that you, and the other ultra religious conservatives, never received a proper education that included critical thought, basic psychology, and lessons in humanity, humility, and charity. Most likely because you just cheat your way through school and life in general. You don't really care about any thing or any one, do you. There are some serious holes in your selfish head and they're perpetuating the causes of our world's ills. That is to say, you are the problem.

Reality Check report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

So choice has nothing to do with it?

Jun 21, 2007 18:58     

A rose by any other name is still a rose…. A choice to utilize the Internet and play videogames is NOT an affliction…it’s a CHOICE!!!
Joe report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

"A leading council of the nation's largest doctors'...

Jun 21, 2007 21:02     

"A leading council of the nation's largest doctors' group wants to have this behavior officially classified as a psychiatric disorder, to raise awareness and enable sufferers to get insurance coverage for treatment." Heh. Looks like they are just trying to find another excuse for you to pay more for insurance. "disorders" are just them trying to tag a stigma to how someone acts so they can make $$. If a kid A stays inside and doesn't want to play with friends, some parent rushes them to the doctor because the these organizations and companies says their children are messed up for not being the same as kid B. The dotcor prescribes some medicine and the same parent returns a while later because the condition hasn't changed.$$$. "...raise awareness..." WTF Ever. Social anxiety and video game addiction is just some Bs to fool dumb parents following everything the the media says.

wolf report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Re: No. (buk)

Jun 25, 2007 08:48     

Prostitutes, pornography, and heroin are considered "entertaining and fun" to some as well. Only one of which has noticeable withdrawal symptoms. "This sounds like doctors trying to make more money of the stupidity of the general public." When people neglect their job and family to play video games - or sate any addiction for that matter, they usually need help to take back control of their life...

JH report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Hey just cause i play eve for 10 hours a night, and...

Jun 25, 2007 11:07     

Hey just cause i play eve for 10 hours a night, and then read forums and killboards all day at work, thinking about playing eve when i cant play doesnt mean im addicted, does it?
Crispydeath report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

hmmm

Jun 26, 2007 15:50     

I suppose people that work more than 40 hours a week are addicted to work, what about athletes that spend most of their time in training or someone that reads books for hours on end. When was the last time you heard someone that reads a lot say something along the lines of "this book was so good I just couldn't put it down" or "I can't relax at night without reading a good book" etc. Guess I better start turning these people in to the mental hospital or get them hooked on some more drugs that are heavily taxed by the government. By the way, when a doctor prescribes drugs, they get a portion of your money that you bought the drugs with. Not too hard to figure out what is going on here.

Steve report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Given how badly ADD medicine is abused...

Jun 26, 2007 22:29     

...this can't possibly be a good thing for the health of a generation.
GyRo567 report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Additions are all menital

Jun 27, 2007 13:42     

Video game like most non-pyshical additions is about craving the brain stimulation. This happens with gambling, food, sex and quiet a few other things. Yes its alot about self control but really some people just dont have it. They need help and drugs can help. Not always but its first start for alot of people. And for for most non-pyshical additions the first weeks is when the help is needed most. And for the record doctors dont get paid for the drugs you take. That just dumb.

Ray report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Life is full of addiction

Sep 11, 2007 01:28     

But drugs aren't the answer! Anymore than quitting smoking by taking heroin is a good idea. What computer addicts really need is for someone to drag them away from the box to do something else. Maybe play a bit of sports or something. Anything that you do often likely fits the description of addiction. The real issue is how these addictions effect the rest of your life (health/family/etc..) Many people are overworked due to an addiction to money, so everyone should take a day off and smoke a bowl (sarcastic).

HumanKoan report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0