Europe's first game's addiction clinic is due to open next month in Europe. Smith & Jones addiction consultants are opening its doors to gamers who feel that games are taking over their lives.

The Dutch consultants appear to be aiming the clinic at young gamers, but we all know that there are plenty of adults who also need the therapy.

According to BBC news, 'the consultancy is already seeing about a dozen "outpatient" youngsters each month who have both a drug and computer game addiction - but increasingly there are calls from youngsters who have gaming as their primary problem.

Just how will they diagnose a gaming addict?

Here are a few of the signs we suggest you keep an eye out for:

Arthritis ridden fingers .
Blank, expressionless stare.
The inability to stand up for more than 5 minutes.
Lack of social skills.
Poor concentration.
Lying to family about how long you've been playing a video game.
Obsessing and pre-occupied about being on the computer or console, even when not playing.
Fantasy life on-line replaces emotional life with partner.
Calling in sick to work on the launch day of a new game.
Failure to eat regularly or at all
Lack of personal hygiene - why wash or even get dressed when there are games to be played?
Hundreds of friends, all of which you have never met.
You fancy Lara Croft.

It's rather surprising that there aren't already clinics out there to deal with the millions of goggled eyed video game fanatics.

We'd check in, but we're saving up for a PS3, do they know how much they cost? How on earth can gamers afford to pay for therapy.

If you can think of any more amusing symptoms that an addicted gamer may show, let us know in the HEXUS.gaming forums..

Also check out this article that was written some months ago on the same subject.

Source : BBC news