A leading psychiatrist at the University of Sydney, Professor Vladan Starcevic, believes that gaming is just as addictive as gambling and tobacco. After conducting a study involving 2000 gamers from all around the globe he has concluded that gaming can lead to depression and other social communication problems. His solution is to have our 'gaming addiction' checked out in the same fashion as we have regular health checks.

"Certain genres of games were much more frequently endorsed by problem gamers," Professor Starcevic said. "Known as massively multi-player online role-playing games, they can be about building a virtual community, collaborating with others you don't know or building your own virtual persona. Many with gaming problems have social anxiety so it can be quite appealing to some to escape from reality and build your own empire."

"The frequency of play is not necessarily damaging," he said. "Thirty per cent who were not deemed problem video gamers played for more than four hours a day. What's more detrimental are the consequences and the level of preoccupation. Even if they play for five or six hours, if they haven't neglected their work, relationships and other aspects of their life, I don't see a particular problem" says Professor Starcevic.

I always find it interesting to look at gaming news in commercial newspapers such as those on News.com.au. Research has already shown the gaming is in no way as addictive as any drug, and that this is nothing more than a moral panic; yet it is constantly put out there. It looks as if gaming being accepted as a mainstream form of entertainment may be further away than we had hoped.

Submitted by ICC_06 29/05/2009 199 12

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