Abstract
The inclusion of Internet Gaming Disorder in the DSM-5 as a condition worthy of further study has generatedsignificant controversy. In part, this is due to concern over how the diagnostic criteria were developed: notably, it isunclear whether the development of these criteria incorporated subjective accounts of living with the disorder, or focused purely on expert consensus. The current study aimed to create an initial understanding of the coresymptoms of the lived experience of gaming disorder, to evaluate the extent of their alignment with the DSM-5criteria for clinical diagnosis. We analysed 304 posts on Reddit written by people about their experiences ofgaming disorder, using thematic analysis. We found seven core symptoms, two of which - consumed by the gameoutside of gaming and cravings and urges to play are not included in the DSM-5, and did not find evidence for theexisting criteria of tolerance and deception of others about time spent gaming. By emphasising the role of theaddicted individuals in constructing their own experience, we highlight the need for urgent re-evaluation of theDSM criteria and a bottom-up reconstruction involving those affected.
