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

Abstract

ObjectiveIn 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.MethodsA 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.ResultsConcerns 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.ConclusionThe 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.

Game‐related behaviors among children and adolescents after school closure during the COVID‐19 pandemic: A cross‐sectional study

“…Several studies have shown that excessive gaming tends to be relatively transient. 58,59 However, other studies have reported relatively long-term (6 months or 2 years) symptom stability. 60,61 In addition, given the sequential changes in children's problematic…”

“…It has also been suggested that the overpathologization of gaming disorder may exacerbate moral panic about gaming 13–15 and hinder the development of effective, evidence‐based social interventions 10 . These remarks point to the need for further empirical studies on dysfunction, course, and prognosis, as well as the stability and predictability of the criteria to verify the validity and usefulness of the diagnostic criteria for IGD/gaming disorder 16 …”

“…10 These remarks point to the need for further empirical studies on dysfunction, course, and prognosis, as well as the stability and predictability of the criteria to verify the validity and usefulness of the diagnostic criteria for IGD/gaming disorder. 16 As of March 31, 2022, the global pandemic of COVID-19 shows no signs of abating, with a cumulative total of 485,243,022 confirmed infections and 6,137,553 deaths. 17 To prevent spread of the disease, precautionary measures have been taken, such as wearing masks, physical distancing, and quarantine.…”

In-game Social Interaction and Gaming Disorder: A Perspective From Online Social Capital

“…According to Muller et al (60), the parameters for the three regression models should be estimated to test the moderated mediation hypothesis. This study specifically estimated the moderating effect of alienation on (1) the relationship between in-game social interaction and gaming disorder (model 1), (2) the relationship between in-game social interaction and online social capital (model 2), and (3) the relationship between online social capital and gaming disorder as well as the residual effect of in-game social interaction on gaming disorder (model 3). The specifications of the three models can be seen in Table 3.…”

“…Playing online games has become a highly prevalent activity, which, in some cases, engenders negative consequences, and becomes addictive (1,2). The 11th edition of the International Classification of Diseases [ICD-11; (3)] recently includes "gaming disorder, predominantly online" as an official diagnosis, and the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders [DSM-5; (4)] also includes online gaming disorder as an emerging mental health issue that should be further investigated.…”