Identifying individuals in need of help for their uncontrolled gaming: A narrative review of concerns and comments regarding gaming disorder diagnostic criteria

doi:10.1556/2006.2020.00058

Review

. 2020 Oct 3;9(3):572-588.

doi: 10.1556/2006.2020.00058. Print 2020 Oct 12.

Identifying individuals in need of help for their uncontrolled gaming: A narrative review of concerns and comments regarding gaming disorder diagnostic criteria

Chih-Hung Ko^{1

2

3}, Orsolya Király⁴, Zsolt Demetrovics⁴, Yun-Ming Chang⁵, Ju-Yu Yen^{1

3

6}

Affiliations

¹ 1Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, 100 Tzyou 1st Rd., 807, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan.
² 2Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Municipal Siaogang Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, 482 San-Ming Rd., 812, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan.
³ 3Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, 100 Shi-Chuan 1st Rd., 807, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan.
⁴ 4Institute of Psychology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary.
⁵ 5Department of Psychology, Minnan Normal University, China.
⁶ 6Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Municipal Ta-Tung Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung City, 812, Taiwan.

PMID: 33011711
PMCID: PMC8943683
DOI: 10.1556/2006.2020.00058

Review

Identifying individuals in need of help for their uncontrolled gaming: A narrative review of concerns and comments regarding gaming disorder diagnostic criteria

Chih-Hung Ko et al. J Behav Addict. 2020.

. 2020 Oct 3;9(3):572-588.

doi: 10.1556/2006.2020.00058. Print 2020 Oct 12.

Authors

Chih-Hung Ko^{1

2

3}, Orsolya Király⁴, Zsolt Demetrovics⁴, Yun-Ming Chang⁵, Ju-Yu Yen^{1

3

6}

Affiliations

¹ 1Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, 100 Tzyou 1st Rd., 807, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan.
² 2Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Municipal Siaogang Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, 482 San-Ming Rd., 812, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan.
³ 3Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, 100 Shi-Chuan 1st Rd., 807, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan.
⁴ 4Institute of Psychology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary.
⁵ 5Department of Psychology, Minnan Normal University, China.
⁶ 6Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Municipal Ta-Tung Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung City, 812, Taiwan.

PMID: 33011711
PMCID: PMC8943683
DOI: 10.1556/2006.2020.00058

Abstract

Objective: In 2013, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) included the diagnostic criteria of Internet gaming disorder (IGD). Then, in 2019, the 11th Revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) categorized gaming disorder (GD) as an addictive disorder. This review aimed to review the raised concerns, debate, and research of IGD or GD criteria and provide suggestions to resolve them.

Methods: A narrative review was conducted, and PubMed was searched for articles mentioning concerns and research on the DSM-5 criteria for IGD, ICD-11 criteria for GD, or criteria for other synonyms, such as problematic gaming or gaming addiction. A total of 107 articles were identified.

Results: Concerns were organized into three categories: conceptual framework, moral panic, and diagnostic validity. Most argumentations supported the proposition that GD and other substance use disorders have similar presentations. A clear definition of GD and adequate public education could prevent rather than exacerbate moral panic. Several researchers reported concerns regarding the nosology, diagnostic validity, and wording of each criterion. However, the threshold, five of the nine criteria with impaired function, demonstrated adequate validity in interview studies.

Conclusion: The current findings support the addiction framework, functional impairment, and validity of the GD criteria. However, further prospective, experimental, and clinical studies validating these findings are warranted. Moreover, an integrative review or debate conference could contribute to the organization of the available results and concept development. Aggregating adequate scientific information could allay or resolve concerns related to the diagnosis of GD.

Keywords: DSM-5; Gaming Disorder; ICD-11; Internet Gaming Disorder; criteria; validity.

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Conflict of interest statement

ZD has been member of a WHO advisory group on the public health consequences of addictive behaviors. In this capacity he has been eligible for travel support from WHO or the host center to attend advisory group meetings but have not been remunerated for their work. ZD is the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Behavioral Addictions.

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References

1. * – Papers found during the literature search
1. # – Papers found in the reference lists of the papers found during the literature search
1. *Aarseth, E., Bean, A. M., Boonen, H., Colder Carras, M., Coulson M., Das, D., et al. (2017). Scholars' open debate paper on the world health organization ICD-11 gaming disorder proposal. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 6(3), 267–270. 10.1556/2006.5.2016.088. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
1. American Psychiatric Association . (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-5). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.
1. *Bailey, K., West, R., & Kuffel, J. (2013). What would my avatar do? Gaming, pathology, and risky decision making. Frontiers in Psychology, 4. 10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00609. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

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[1] * – Papers found during the literature search

[2] * – Papers found during the literature search

[3] # – Papers found in the reference lists of the papers found during the literature search

[4] # – Papers found in the reference lists of the papers found during the literature search

[5] *Aarseth, E., Bean, A. M., Boonen, H., Colder Carras, M., Coulson M., Das, D., et al. (2017). Scholars' open debate paper on the world health organization ICD-11 gaming disorder proposal. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 6(3), 267–270. 10.1556/2006.5.2016.088. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[6] *Aarseth, E., Bean, A. M., Boonen, H., Colder Carras, M., Coulson M., Das, D., et al. (2017). Scholars' open debate paper on the world health organization ICD-11 gaming disorder proposal. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 6(3), 267–270. 10.1556/2006.5.2016.088. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[7] American Psychiatric Association . (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-5). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.

[8] American Psychiatric Association . (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-5). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.

[9] *Bailey, K., West, R., & Kuffel, J. (2013). What would my avatar do? Gaming, pathology, and risky decision making. Frontiers in Psychology, 4. 10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00609. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[10] *Bailey, K., West, R., & Kuffel, J. (2013). What would my avatar do? Gaming, pathology, and risky decision making. Frontiers in Psychology, 4. 10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00609. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

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Identifying individuals in need of help for their uncontrolled gaming: A narrative review of concerns and comments regarding gaming disorder diagnostic criteria

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Identifying individuals in need of help for their uncontrolled gaming: A narrative review of concerns and comments regarding gaming disorder diagnostic criteria

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