Have you ever played games for a long period of time and thought it was just a harmless bit of fun? Well, you may be suffering from the world's newest addiction

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has listed 'gaming disorder' in their recent draft of the 2018 International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11), which was last updated 27 years ago in 1990.

While the final version of the diagnostic manual won't be published until next year, it currently states that gaming disorder is "characterised by a pattern of persistent or recurrent gaming behaviour ('digital gaming' or 'video-gaming'), which may be online (ie. over the internet) or offline".

Being added into the ICD-11 will mean that gaming disorder will become an official health diagnosis that can be used by doctors, other health care workers, and insurance companies.

The problem is on that is as prevalent in New Zealand as it is around the world.

This afternoon, Tim Wilson spoke with a young man called Mac who confessed to being addicted to Call of Duty. 

"I've done 36 hours, probably had about five hours sleep and then done it again."

He said that he has recently begun to realise that he could have a serious problem.

"My girlfriend gets a bit mad at me and that makes me feel like one."

He is now seeking help to try and curb his addiction.

LISTEN TO MAC TALK WITH TIM WILSON ABOVE