Is Video Game Addiction a Legitimate Diagnosis?

Your teen refuses to come out of his room, he shuts you out of his life, grades start to slip, and he refuses to eat and shower. This behavior can simply be a kid going through normal growing pains. On a more serious level, it can be signs of drug abuse. The American Psychiatric Association suggests this behavior maybe the result of video game addiction.

The Associated Press is reporting this weekend during the annual American Medical Association's policy meeting to be held in Chicago; the council will be reviewing a report by the American Psychiatric Association regarding classifying video game addiction as an official disorder.

By classifying video game addiction as an official disorder, this will allow sufferers to get insurance coverage for treatment. The report states that approximately 90 percent of young people play video games and an astonishing 15 percent-5 million kids may be addicted.

According to the Associated Press, a Texas mother comes forward in trying to cope with her 17 year old son's addiction to video games.

"He would threaten us physically. He would curse and call us every name imaginable; it was as if he was possessed."

Joyce Protopapas goes on to say in the AP report that her son Michael's behavior had drastically changed. He went from being an outgoing, straight A student into a reclusive teen who failed classes and spent several hours a day playing the online video game "World of Warcraft".

The Protopapas family had sent the child to different therapist who disregarded their claims of video game addiction. The family eventually did come across a therapist who confirmed his video game addiction last fall. Michael was sent to a therapeutic boarding school. The cost is $5,000 a month, which is not covered by insurance.

Finally in the AP report, the head of a television and media committee at the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Dr. Michael Brody praises the AMA council for bringing attention to the problem. Dr. Brody also suggests that excessive video game playing could be symptoms of other problems such as social anxieties or depression.

SOURCE:

TANNER, L. AP Medical Writer(2007/21/06). Video game addiction: A new diagnosis?. Retrieved June 22, 2007, from Yahoo! News Web site: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070621/ap_on_he_me/video_game_addiction;_ylt=AmKdRqrauIb.e1Dehl_OI_lZ24cA