WHO has officially recognized computer gambling as a disease
Computer gambling has been officially recognized as a disease and is included in the eleventh update of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems. At the same time, experts from the World Health Organization emphasize that only an experienced doctor can make a new diagnosis. The eleventh version of the International Classification of Diseases was published in June 2018. The new document revises the existing classification of diseases and also introduces new medical standards and diseases. Thus, ICD-11 recognizes gambling addiction as a new type of mental disorder with an excessive passion for computer and video games. However, in order to diagnose the disease in a person, signs of the disorder must be observed throughout the year, negatively affecting the family, social, educational, professional and other areas of life. “The diagnosis of gambling can only be made by trained medical professionals. Therefore, you cannot apply the diagnostic description of such a disorder to your relatives or friends. It is the prerogative of doctors,” said the WHO expert on psychoactive substances and addictive behavior. Vladimir Poznyak before RIA Novosti. According to him, there are many signs of the psychological disorder gambling addiction, including if the desire for computer games begins to dominate other interests and interfere with a person’s social life for at least 12 months.
