ESA speaks out against ‘gaming disorder’ classification

The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has released a statement responding to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recent recognition of gaming addiction as a mental health disorder.

The ESA, a lobbying group made up of the gaming industry’s biggest publishers, claims that WHO has “recklessly” trivialized “real mental health issues” in their push to classify gaming addiction as a mental disorder.

The ESA is urging the organization to reverse its direction in their latest statement.

“Just like avid sports fans and consumers of all forms of engaging entertainment, gamers are passionate and dedicated with their time. Having captivated gamers for more than four decades, more than 2 billion people around the world enjoy video games.”

“The World Health Organization knows that common sense and objective research prove video games are not addictive. And, putting that official label on them recklessly trivializes real mental health issues like depression and social anxiety disorder, which deserve treatment and the full attention of the medical community. We strongly encourage the WHO to reverse direction on its proposed action.”

The American Psychological Association (APA) claims that there is too little evidence to support classifying ‘gaming disorders’ in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual or International Compendium of Diseases. The APA goes on to state that it is too premature to begin categorizing video game addiction disorders.