The Wall Street Journal Health Blog is this week reporting the latest word from the American Medical Association, who are considering this month whether or not to suggest videogame and internet addiction be freshly classified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

A vote will take place at the medical body later this month, and if excessive gaming is re-classed as a mental disorder, then the American Psychiatric Association will look into the issue, who will make a final decision on classification. Social and personal linked to dangerously excessive videogaming have been in the media frequently of late, and the issue is already being addressed in countries like with addicts treated at special clinics.

"Current data suggest these individuals are somewhat marginalised socially, perhaps experiencing high levels of emotional loneliness and/or difficulty with real-life social interactions. Current theory is that these individuals achieve more control of their social relationships and more success in social relationships in the virtual reality realm than in real relationships," states Mohamed K. Khan, chairman of the Council on Science and Public Health, in a report on the topic.

Gaming addictions, according to the report, are closest in resemblance to pathological gaming, and it looks at 'withdrawal symptoms', dependent behaviour, and more. Indeed, with the rise of gaming as a mainstream past time it looks likely the negative impact of gaming will increasingly come under the spotlight. More on this soon.

By Luke Guttridge