AMA Refers Video Game Addiction to the American Psychological Association

While the American Medical Association may have left the matter undecided, letting the American Psychological Association discuss the matter instead, they may soon come to the conclusion that millions of parents may have come to already - that playing video games may be an addiction. Do not expect an answer anytime soon though. The debate will occur over the next five years to determine if enough scientific evidence is available to classify video games as an addiction. According to WebMD one such treatment center for teenage addicts has been opened in the Netherlands.

The idea of the games being addictive is not new and the potential problem first gained national attention a few years ago when Liz Wooley's teenage son committed suicide. He suffered from depression and shot himself. When his mother found him, the Everquest title screen could be seen on his computer. The organization she founded called Online Gamers Anonymous purports to help those who wish to be free of online games. Wooley stated that her "priority was to educate parents that these games are addictive. Parents should know what their child may be getting up in the middle of the night to play without them even knowing."

If the decision comes down in favor of video games being an addiction it could have wide ranging implications for employers, forcing insurance companies to pay for treatment. Medications would also have to be studied for effectiveness in treatment. The move is not without its critics however, pointing out the success in use of video games to treat children with autism. It is more likely, they say, that overplaying of video games is not a psychological problem, but a social one.

While it may seem to be gaining ground, people skeptical of the potential decision point out that most people who suffer from online or video game addiction suffer from other personality disorders that make them more likely to find any sort of behavior addicted. Industry advocates and several watchdog groups argue that the key is moderation, or as it appeared above the Temple of Delphi in ancient Greece, "nothing too much."