Video Game Addiction Listed as Mental Illness: WHO|WHO將電玩成癮列精神疾病 今起生效

If you or someone you know abandon work and school due to playing video games, it's time to learn more about the very real and serious problem of video game addiction, which has been listed as a mental illness by the World Health Organization, effective starting June 18.


Many video games presents irresistible attractions to the players thanks to their spectacular graphics and the variety in themes. Many office workers spend a lot of their free times in local internet café to play games.

(I prefer) role-playing games and online competitions. It gives me a sense of accomplishment when I prove to have better skills than others. Work is tiring enough, playing games can serve to release some pressure.

The rising popularity of computers and smart phones have led to a drastic increase in game-playing population. The World Health Organization (WHO) listed addiction to video games as a mental illness, effective starting June 18. The symptoms of video game addiction include playing video games uncontrollably, and placing video game on a higher priority than all other activities in life, as well as irregular schedule, and even refusing to attend school. If these behaviors last for over a year, then the player is considered to be addicted.

Those who are addicted often suffer from other symptoms or challenge, such as emotional instability, or inability to communicate with others. They tend to not find sense of accomplishment in real life.

Doctors said that survey has found that 8 percent of teenagers between the age of 12 and 18 suffer from video game addiction, the majority of whom are boys. The doctors said that if these teenagers play video games to the point where they no longer eat properly and abandon their school work, their families need seek professional help.