Was Adam Lanza A Video Gaming Addict?

The DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders aka DSM-V) is scheduled for release in May 2013. http://www.dsm5.org/Pages/Default.aspx    

With much disagreement and debate yet underway, prevailing thought is that 'online gaming addiction' may well be included as an official psychiatric diagnosis under the larger designation of 'Internet Addiction Disorder ('IAD'). Already 'video game addiction' is recognized and treated by many mental health professionals. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3480687/

A thorough 'post-mortem psychological forensic analysis' of Adam Lanza's compulsive gaming is essential, so that we may understand the etiology of his horrendous actions, and thus, perhaps, prevent future shootings.

Having been involved in 'active shooter response trainings', I can tell you that some describe these shootings as having five 'stages': fantasy, planning, preparation, approach and implementation.

Anyone care to guess just where the violent video games in Adam Lanza's life came in, regarding these five stages?

Two things we need to understand: why Adam spent so many years planning his evil deeds...see 'stages' above...

And, why, did no one, apparently, 'notice' and report what must have been some really bizarre behavior exhibited by a really bizarre young man?

Our hearts hurt for lack of answers to these questions.

Please note that I am not rendering a wholesale condemnation of the video-gaming community. Indeed, some of 'our finest' have pre-trained, trained, and been evaluated via video gaming systems.

And video games can provide a welcome 'escape' and entertainment for many people.

I do, however, have questions about the wisdom of 'allowing' (or in Nancy Lanza's case, 'encouraging') mentally ill individuals to function in a gaming environment which can, in and of itself, render one susceptible to a substantial addiction.

Your thoughts?

Barb