How does the World Health Organization describe gaming disorder?

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electronic game The fictional character Mario from Nintendo's *Super Mario Bros.* video game franchise. Mario debuted as Jumpman in *Donkey Kong* (1981) before appearing in *Mario Bros.* (1983).

The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies gaming disorder as a condition characterized by a pattern of persistent or recurrent gaming behavior. This behavior is defined by three primary features:

Impaired control over gaming (e.g., onset, frequency, intensity, duration, termination, or context).
Increasing priority given to gaming to the extent that it takes precedence over other life interests and daily activities.
Continuation or escalation of gaming despite the occurrence of negative consequences.

This definition is included in the International Classification of Diseases 11th Revision (ICD-11). The disorder reflects a pattern of behavior of sufficient severity to result in significant impairment in personal, family, social, educational, or occupational functioning.1