Game addiction, also known as gaming disorder, is generally defined as the problematic, compulsive use of video games that results in significant impairment of a person's ability to function in various domains of life over an extended period of time. This and related concepts have been the subject of much research, debate and discussion among experts in various disciplines and have generated controversy within the medical, scientific and gaming communities. Such disorders can be diagnosed when a person engages in gaming activities at the expense of fulfilling daily responsibilities or pursuing other interests without considering the negative consequences. As defined by the ICD-11, the main criterion for this disorder is a lack of self-control over gaming.


The World Health Organization has included gaming addiction in the 11th revision of its International Classification of Diseases (ICD). The American Psychiatric Association (APA), although stating that there is insufficient evidence for the inclusion of Internet gaming disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders in 2013, deemed it worthy of further investigation.


Controversy surrounding diagnosis includes whether the disorder is a distinct clinical entity or a manifestation of underlying psychiatric disorders. Research has approached the question from different perspectives, without universally standardized or agreed-upon definitions, leading to difficulties in developing evidence-based recommendations.


Treatment BeterKlinic

BeterKliniek is the clinic for Integrative Medicine that bridges regular and non-regular medicine.

An van Veen (physician) and Michael van Gils (therapist) look for the cause of a condition or disease. That is where the treatment starts otherwise, as people often say, it is 'carrying water to the sea'. We call this cause medicine. Sometimes it is also desirable to treat the symptoms (at the same time). We call this symptom medicine.

Chronic disorders often have their cause in epi- genetics. You can schedule a free informative telephone consultation (phone number 040-7117337 until 1 p.m.) at BeterKliniek to discuss your symptoms so that we can provide you with further advice.