The AMA on Wednesday released a report from the annual meeting stating that excessive videogame playing is not a psychiatric condition. Great news for insurance companies, bad news for psychiatrists. But what kind of news is it for gamers?

“While more study is needed on the addictive potential of video games, the AMA remains concerned about the behavioral, health and societal effects of video game and Internet overuse. We urge parents to closely monitor their children’s use of video games and the Internet."

-- Ronald M. Davis, M.D., AMA President.

Given that approximately 70 to 90 percent of U.S. youths play video games, the American Medical Association (AMA) 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.

Personally I do not believe that gaming can become an addiction based on a mental state. Simply speaking we must all know when to just turn off the game and walk away. I know when that is because I begin to get frustrated with a game and angry. When I become angry while playing a game, it's time to take a break. I have something of an addictive personality, I know this. I recently stopped smoking for the umpteenth time. I can eat the same food for several days or even a week in row. I can work 12 to 18 hours a day on here and not even blink, for months on end.

 So if someone were to tell me that it [excessive videogame playing] was a psychiatric problem, I would probably scoff at them. It is a personality problem, just like smoking, working too much and drug use. As gamers, no, as responsible adult members of society we have to just know when to stop. Perhaps children have more problems knowing when to shut the system down and walk away, but as I have always said, this then becomes the responsibility of the parents. Of course if the parents don't take any interest or work 18 hours a day themselves then they might never realize it is actually becoming a problem. 

 In the Janesville Gazette there was an article that spoke with a 14-year-old boy from Hales Corners, Wisconsin (Go Badgers!) who said his grades suffered, he didn't spend time with his family and friends and that it IS a psychiatric problem. During all these hours, days, weeks and months of his addiction did his parents not once try to actually break him of this? 

“We would like to see a ratings system that better alerts parents to the content of the video game and recommended age of the player, so they can decide whether or not their child should be playing it,” said Dr. Davis. “Parents need to more closely monitor and restrict the types of video games their children are playing and buying, and a clear rating system would help them do that.”

Yes, I agree. But how do you get parents to do that is the question. Slap them with legal fines for failing to take an active interest in the betterment of society? Cite them with child neglect? Make them watch 12 hour marathons of 'The Nanny' or 'Father Knows Best'? 

 Many things can become a habit, even an obsession but I think it rests on our shoulders to police ourselves and our children. It rests on our shoulders to keep things under control. So go outside and take a walk. Me? Well I have 10 more hours of work to do yet today, because I want to, not because I need to.

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