Doctors dismiss 'videogame addiction' claim

Leading doctors have stated that 'videogame addiction' is not to be recognised as a mental illness, or put in the same category as addiction to drugs or alcohol.

A debate at the American Medical Association found that doctors were opposed to such a classification, believing that more research needs to be done

"There's nothing here to suggest that this is a complex physiological disease state akin to alcoholism or other substance abuse disorders, and it doesn't get to have the word addition attached to it," said Dr. Stuart Gitlow of the American Society of Addiction Medicine.

The group stated that if research shows that videogame addiction is legitimate, it could be included in the American Psychiatric Association's next diagnostic manual in five years time.

The American Medical Association is to make a final recommendation on the subject later this week.