June 25, 2007 (LPAC)--Much of the US national press headlined today a Reuters release dated June 24, 2007 from Chicago, where the AMA is holding its annual convention. "Addiction experts say video games not an addiction," says the wire. But a call to the American Medical Association revealed that no decision has yet been made, but rather that on Tuesday afternoon, the AMA is expected to vote on whether to declare video games addictive, and list that addiction in the American Diagnostic Manual of Mental Orders (DSM). The $40 billion international video game "industry," clearly does not want the AMA to rule video games "addictive."

Last year's AMA convention delegated its Council of Science and Public Health to prepare a report "on the emotional and behavioral effects, including addiction potential of video games." Now complete, that report says "That our AMA strongly encourage the consideration and inclusion of 'Internet/video game addiction' in the DSM. [Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders]"