According to news reports, a committee at the AMA meeting had proposed that game addiction should be recognized as a disorder in the American Diagnostic and Statistic Manual of Mental Disorders, which is used by the American Psychiatric Association (APA). So far, the majority of attendees at the AMA meeting have rejected the idea on the grounds that the subject needs more research. The APA made an official statement this week explaining the decision (check out Gamasutra’s report for more).

“The APA defines mental disorders in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Since the current edition, DSM-IV-TR, does not list “video game addiction,” the APA does not consider “video game addiction” to be a mental disorder at this time. If the science warrants it, this proposed disorder will be considered for inclusion in DSM-V, which is due to be published in 2012. Revising DSM requires a years-long, rigorous process – one that is transparent and open to suggestions from our colleagues in the medical and mental health communities and the public.”

On one hand, I’m glad to see that experts in the medical community aren’t rushing to judgment and taking a cautious approach with game addiction by putting an emphasis on research and in-depth studies. On the hand, I do believe game addiction is very real. No, I don’t have a medical license and I’m no expert. But I’ve known and spoken with enough gamers who have become enveloped by MMORPGs like EverQuest and World of WarCraft to accept that some people can become addicted to games, just like some folks become addicted to gambling.

Does that mean that MMOs should be outlawed? Of course not. But for some of the people that become addicted to games and have nowhere to turn, it would help if game addiction was actually recognized as a medical disorder. That way, they wouldn’t get laughed out of the doctor’s office when they try to seek help. I think it’s unfortunate, too, that legislators and moral majority leaders are spending all their time and energy trying to criminalize violent video games while the issue of game addiction gets little to no attention, comparatively.

Whatever the case, it looks like there will be a long wait before game addiction becomes an official medical disorder.