AMA Backs Away from Video Game Addiction
The AMA, in perhaps a nod to critics, decided not to recommend that so-called “video game addiction” be listed as a diagnostic disorder in upcoming revisions of the DSM. Lindsey Tanner over at the AP wrote the primary article that was picked up by several news outlets last week. AMA delegates voted to research the issue further.
I was very encouraged at the wording in the AMA press release on the matter. The opening paragraph is as follows:
Given that approximately 70 to 90 percent of U.S. youths play video games, the American Medical Association (AMA) today called for more research on the long-term beneficial and detrimental effects of video game and Internet use, as well as a review of the current video game ratings system.
The key phrase here is “long-term beneficial and detrimental effects of video game and Internet use.” This is a clear acknowledgement that there are benefits to video game use, and the inclusion of beneficial effects alongside detrimental ones shows at least some realization that not all video gaming is harmful. Too often, the bias is against video games, especially in the media where issues are often simplified and broadly categorized. Someone over at the AMA realizes there needs to be unbiased research of video games, and that benefits are on an equal standing as possibilities for research findings.
All told, a very nice outcome. I’m all for more research of video games.
References
AMA (2007, June 27). AMA takes action on video games. [Online]. Available:
http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/17770.html
Tanner, L. (2007, June 28). AMA won’t call video gaming an addiction. [Online]. Retrieved July 2, 2007 from
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/products/2007-06-28-2398179556_x.htm
AMA, DSM, Game Discussion, Game Studies, Serious Games, Video Game Addiction, Video Game Research, Web 2.0 | John Rice | 
July 2, 2007 10:36 pm
