Internet Addiction: A Novel Disease Or A Bad
Habit?
July 3, 2008
It is impossible to deny the incredible significance of the internet and the
effects its development has had on the world. Today the internet touches nearly
every aspect of our daily lives; we shop online, we keep in touch through email,
banking and credit can be taken care of through one click of a mouse, news from
all over the world blinks up at us from the screen every time we log on, and
communities of people from all over the planet are connected. Despite its
obvious countless advantages, there is a rising concern regarding the overuse of
the internet on a personal level. There are more and more people each day who
feel a compulsive need to be connected to the internet, a need that some
scientists and psychiatrists have begun to consider an addiction. This issue
drew major media attention in March of this year when Dr. Jerald Block published
an editorial in the American Journal of Psychiatry arguing that "Internet
Addiction" should be included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of
Mental Disorders (DSM-V), a handbook published by the American Psychiatric
Association of recognized psychological conditions. Block raised the question of
whether this new phenomenon should be classified as a disease or written off as
a bad habit.
The traditional view of addiction generally applies to substances like drugs or
alcohol and is seen as a result of a combination of genetic and social
influences. However, in recent years the definition of addiction has expanded to
include different behaviors like gambling and over-eating. The question that
remains to be seen is if there are enough similarities between traditional
addiction and this so called internet addiction to warrant its acceptance as a
disease by the mental health community. For now it is officially titled Internet
Addictive Disorder (IAD) or Internet Overuse Syndrome (IOS) and not recognized
by the American Psychiatric Association.
Block argues that Internet addiction is characterized by the same four factors
as traditional addiction: excessive use, withdrawal, tolerance, and negative
repercussions. He contends that users are on the internet for so much time that
they are unaware of how many hours have gone by, and neglect other basic human
desires, often forgetting to eat or use the bathroom. Users feel angry,
depressed, and tense when access to the internet is limited and frequently need
better tools and more time of use to experience the original satisfaction.
Internet addicts also face such harmful consequences as social isolation and
poor achievement. The statistics regarding the prevalence of internet addiction
in the U.S. vary widely. A random telephone survey estimated 0.3-0.7% of
Americans are afflicted, while Maressa Hecht Orzack of McLean Hospital in
Massachusetts, estimates that nearly 10% of Americans have experienced some sort
of internet dependency. Higher rates of addiction are seen mostly in Asian
nations like South Korea and China where the popularity of internet cafes is
high and the condition is easier to track because of its public nature. In fact,
data from 2006 stated that approximately 210,000 South Korean children (2.1%)
were afflicted with internet addiction with about 80% requiring treatment that
included the use of psychotropic medication. Another interesting aspect of IAD
is that most often individuals who suffer from it also are battling another
mental illness. In particular, mood, anxiety, impulse control and substance
abuse disorders are common in conjunction with internet overuse.
Research has traced other behavioral addictions like gambling and shopping to
biological foundations; however the current research on internet addiction
merely distinguishes it as a growing issue and draws parallels to other types of
addictions. More studies need to be performed on this new phenomenon in order to
properly characterize it as an addiction or as simply a destructive behavior.
While the internet may not officially be an addiction, there are still many
individuals out there who would benefit from treatment. There are currently no
proven forms of effective treatment and no available psychotropic medications
for IAD. However, like with other addictive habits, cognitive behavioral therapy
may be effective. Cognitive therapy is essentially a method that identifies and
helps a person to correct specific errors in what he or she is thinking that
produces negative or painful feelings. According to Dr. Allison Conner of
Cognitive Therapy Associates, an internet addiction could be treated similarly
to other addictions. She asserts that, "so many changes need to occur in
the person's lifestyle (mental, emotional, physical, social), and support is
crucial. A guide or coach is often essential to help ensure success, but most
important is the willingness of the addicted person to get real with themselves
and stay committed to the goal of recovery."
While we may not see Internet Addiction in the DSM-V handbook anytime soon, the
issue is controversial and becoming ever more widespread. Ironically enough, you
can even look up online resources if you feel you need help.
Written by Elizabeth Dillon, Cognitive Therapy Associates
Sources:
Block, Jerald J. (2008). Issues for DSM-V: Internet Addiction. The American
Journal of Psychiatry, 165, 306-307.
Goldsborough, Reid, (2008). Internet Addiction Afflicting a Growing Number of
Web Surfers. Community College Week, Vol. 20 Issue 11, 0, 22-22.
Shaw, Martha Black, Donald W. (2008). Internet Addiction. CNS Drugs, Vol.
22, Issue 5, 13, 353-365.
Dr. Allison Conner can be contacted through her website.
or at (212)-258-2577.
http://www.cognitive-therapy-associates.com/
Medical News Today: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com
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