Psychiatrists and other mental health specialists who are revising the industry’s main mental health manual are poises to reclassify additions in a way that will result in millions more people being labeled as addicts, according to a New York Times report released today.

The revision to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (D.S.M.) expands recognized symptoms for drug and alcohol addition and reduces the required number of symptoms for a diagnosis. בנוסף, gambling would be considered an addiction for the first time.

גם, a category labeled “Behavorial addiction – not otherwise specified” could be used to diagnose addictions to behaviors like sex, פורנוגרפיה, compulsive shopping, internet use or video games.

Government and industry have long used the manual. Courts use the manual in assessing defendants for criminal trials, it dictates if Medicare or Medicaid will pay for treatment of a disorder and whether schools will expand special-education programs.

The changes are currently under scientific review but researchers involved say it’s unlikely significant changes will be made to the proposed manual changes.