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Videogame Addiction: In or Out of Psych Bible?

By pete_gallagher

As the American Psychiatric Association (APA) opens up the 5th edition of its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) to feedback from the Internet, GamePro takes a look at how videogame addiction might factor into the discussion.

Videogame addiction is not currently in the APA classification system, but if it was, it would likely be considered an entry in the 'non-substance addiction' category, alongside other suggested entries such as eating, shopping and sexual activity.

As GamePro notes, that category could be removed altogether:

… proposed changes could eliminate the "Non-substance addictions" category where people argue game addiction should go; instead, replacing it with a general diagnosis category.

Proposed draft revisions can be viewed on the DSM-5 site.

Thanks DarkSaber!

Full post as published by GamePolitics.com on February 11, 2010 (boomark / email).