The NHS is set to fund an internet addiction centre – with a focus on gaming disorders.
According to The Guardian, the Central and North West London NHS foundation trust is behind the Centre for Internet Disorders, which will initially focus on gaming addiction. The idea is it will offer treatment and advice to families as well as conduct research.
Gaming addiction was thrust into the headlines earlier in June after it emerged “gaming disorder” could become a proper medical condition – should a draft of the World Health Organisation’s updated International Classification of Diseases manual be approved unamended roughly a year from now.
A proposed definition of gaming disorder appeared in the newest version of the International Classification of Diseases – the 11th revision of which is in development and has been for a few years.
The current version of ICD-11 defines “gaming disorder” as:
“Characterised by a pattern of persistent or recurrent gaming behaviour, which may be online or offline, manifested by: 1) impaired control over gaming (e.g., onset, frequency, intensity, duration, termination, context); 2) increasing priority given to gaming to the extent that gaming takes precedence over other life interests and daily activities; and 3) continuation or escalation of gaming despite the occurrence of negative consequences.