Is Gaming a Disease?

Following last week's announcement that “Gaming disorder” may be added to the WHO’s roster of diseases come June, proponents said it could help diagnose and treat unhealthy gaming habits and free up funding to treat the afflicted. Iowa State University psychologist Douglas Gentile says naming the disorder could spur much-needed research into gaming’s risk patterns and ideal treatment protocols.

But critics including the Higher Education Video Game Alliance—funded by the video game industry—say the WHO is jumping the joystick, citing experts’ “clear lack of consensus” about gaming’s mental-health implications.

Inside Higher Ed