Zhang Tiankan (

Guangming Daily): The debate around whether or not to classify gaming disorder as a disease has always been controversial. The WHO ICD-11 draft not only affirms more than 10,000 previous revisions, but also proposes new standards for existing and new diseases, with gaming disorder added to the section for addictive diseases.

For a new disease to be confirmed, approval must come not only from WHO member states but from the relevant disease commissions in these countries as well. This is a responsible and scientific way to confirm the existence of a disease. The consideration given to gaming disorder by the WHO indicates that this condition is increasingly recognized by global society, and there is no doubt that scientific and concrete standards will be conducive to the diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

Clinical research and practice are now necessary to determine how best to cure gaming disorder and set up treatment standards. There are reports that electric shock therapy has been used in China to treat such conditions. This treatment is not only ineffective but has negative physical and psychological consequences.

Gaming disorder is extremely harmful to adolescents and adults. According to the third survey on gaming disorder from the China Youth Internet Association, about 14.1 percent, or 24.04 million, young Internet users suffer from some form of gaming disorder, while around 12.7 percent, or 18.58 million, have displayed addictive tendencies which are yet to develop into a disorder. Patients with gaming disorder can become violent or incapacitated as a result of the condition, unable to deal with reality and in some extreme cases even at risk