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Read the following story from the Bangkok Post. Then, answer the questions that follow.

Gaming addiction has been listed as a mental health condition for the first time by the World Health Organization (WHO).

BAD OBSESSION

Kantachai, 21, doesn’t believe that gaming for 10 hours nonstop is an issue, as long as he is able to make time for other activities in between sessions.

“Gaming is my hobby. I don’t see a problem with playing for long hours because it doesn’t cause others any trouble. Besides, game addiction is better than drug addiction,” said the 4th-year student.

As a child, Kantachai was bullied at school for being fat. After his parents got divorced, he was raised by his mother. This led him into gaming in the hopes of finding companionship. Gaming, he said, helps him feel less isolated and allows him to make many friends online.

Another student, who wished to remain anonymous, said that he can play video games for eight hours a day during summer break.

“But during academic term, I play a maximum of five hours a day. It doesn’t impact my health in any way. I have made many friends through gaming. It hasn’t had a negative impact on my life,” he said.

EARLY WARNING SIGNS

In June, “gaming disorder” was included in a new draft of the WHO's International Classification of Diseases. The medical community is still working out the finer details on what constitutes addiction, but extreme gaming is now officially considered a disorder.

Thailand has long been concerned over this psychological condition. In February, the Department of Mental Health revealed that the number of children diagnosed as gaming addicts was six times the 2015 rate.

Currently, the Institute of Youth Mental Health recognises 429 cases of gaming addiction - one-third of all youngsters diagnosed with psychiatric conditions. An unofficial estimate by the institute states that 1.6 million Thai children risk developing an addiction to gaming.

“The advent of mobile technology has made it easier for people from all age groups to get drawn into gaming, and if not controlled, become addicted to it,” said Dr Apichat Jariyavilas, a psychiatrist and spokesperson for the Department of Mental Health, Ministry of Public Health.

“Today anybody can play on their mobile phones and tablets at any hour of the day. We bring our mobile phones with us everywhere - to school, to the office and to social events. This makes it all the more difficult to restrain yourself from playing.”

ANALYSE THIS

According to the WHO, gaming disorder develops when a person has impaired control over the onset, frequency, intensity, duration, termination or context of gaming. They give increasing priority to gaming over other life interests and daily activities and continue or escalate their gaming despite the occurrence of negative consequences.

The Thai Department of Mental Health notes that negative side effects of game addiction include frustration when not playing, anxiety, mild depression and aggressive behaviour.

However, the WHO’s new categorisation has not yet been met with universal acceptance. The manual of the American Psychiatric Association calls excessive video gaming a condition but not a formal diagnosis or disease. It says more research is needed to determine if it qualifies as an addiction. The only behaviour classified as an addiction in the association’s diagnostic manual is compulsive gambling.

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Section 1

Read through the story and answer the following multiple-choice questions.

1. What is the article about?

a. Why gamers get bullied.
b. A mental health disorder.
c. Making friends through online gaming.

2. What does Kantachai feel are the benefits of gaming?

a. It makes him feel less alone.
b. It helps him get back at bullies.
c. Both a and b are correct.

3. Who is Apichat Jariyavilas?

a. A pharmacist.
b. A psychiatrist.
c. A therapist.

4. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the article?

a. How a person develops gaming disorder.
b. The number of Thai children diagnosed as being addicted to gaming.
c. The view of the Asian Federation of Psychiatric Associations.

5. When was gaming disorder listed as a mental health condition by the WHO?

a. This year.
b. Last year.
c. In 2015.

6. Which of the following best describes the word “gaming disorder”?

a. Factors that cause a person to be addicted to games
b. Uncontrollable and persistent playing of games to the extent that it becomes more important than other interests and activities.
c. Frustration, anxiety, mild depression and aggressive behaviour.
 
7. Which of the following statements is NOT true, according to the article?

a. Kantachai is a freshman.
b. Kantachai is 21 years old.
c. Kantachai thinks that gaming addiction is better than drug addiction.

Section 2

Match each of the following words used in the story with the correct definitions from the choices given.

8. diagnostic	a. a result of something that has happened
9. impaired	b. damaged or not functioning normally
10. excessive	c. to stop somebody for something from doing something, especially by using physical force
11.consequence	d. connected with identifying something, especially an illness
12. restrain	e. the beginning of something, especially something unpleasant
13. onset	f. greater than what seems reasonable or appropriate

Section 3

Read the following passage. Then, fill in the blanks with the correct words from the choices given.

Dr Apichat said gaming can be used as a tool for …..14….. stress if people spend time playing games in moderation. However, its overuse can impact their interpersonal skills, distract them from keeping up with their careers or schoolwork and possibly …..15….. them with poor ……16…… and physical health. According to the WHO, for gaming disorder to be diagnosed, the behaviour pattern must be severe enough to result …..17….. significant impairment in personal, family, social, educational, occupational or …..18….. important areas of functioning and would normally have been evident …..19….. at least 12 months.

14.

a. reduce  
b. reducing  
c. reduction

15.

a. leave  
b. leaving  
c. left

16.

a. emotion  
b. emotionally  
c. emotional

17.

a. of  
b. over    
c. in

18.

a. other  
b. another  
c. others

19.

a. from  
b. with   
c. for

Section 4

Write down the verb forms of the following words used in the story in the space given.

20. formal

…………………………

21. priority

…………………………

22. gambling

…………………………

23. frustration

…………………………

24. occurrence

…………………………

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Answers

Section 1

1. b.
2. a.
3. b.
4. c.
5. a.
6. b.
7. a.

Section 2

8. d.
9. b.
10. f.
11. a.
12. c.
13. e.

Section 3

14. b.
15. a.
16. c.
17. c.
18. a.
19. c.

Section 4

20. Formalise.
21. Prioritise.
22. Gamble.
23. Frustrate.
24. Occur.

SCORE

21-24: Excellent!
17-20: Good.
13-16: Fair.
12 or fewer: You'll do better next time!