AN OXFORD professor has said classifying gaming addiction as a mental health condition is premature, experts have warned.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) included “gaming disorder” in the latest revision of its disease classification manual, describing it as a pattern of persistent gaming behaviour so severe it ‘takes precedence over other life interests’.
However, experts said there is a lack of scientific evidence into playing video games and excessive screen time, and criticised the move for making a hobby seem abnormal.
Professor Andy Przybylski, associate professor and director of research at the Oxford Internet Institute, said it was a well-intentioned but premature move by WHO.
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