[photopress:IT_Internet_addict.jpg,full,alignright]Jerald J. Block, M.D. writing in the American Journal of Psychiatry claims that internet addiction appears to be a common disorder that merits inclusion in American standard list of mental disorders which is called DSM-V.
He further said that it consists of at least three subtypes: excessive gaming, sexual preoccupations, and e-mail/text messaging.
All of the variants share the following four components:
1) Excessive use, often associated with a loss of sense of time or a neglect of basic drives.
2) Withdrawal, including feelings of anger, tension, and/or depression when the computer is inaccessible.
3) Tolerance, including the need for better computer equipment, more software, or more hours of use.
4) Negative repercussions, including arguments, lying, poor achievement, social isolation, and fatigue.
China is greatly concerned about the disorder. At a recent conference, Tao Ran, Ph.D., Director of Addiction Medicine at Beijing Military Region Central Hospital, reported 13.7% of Chinese adolescent Internet users meet Internet addiction diagnostic criteria — about 10 million teenagers. As a result, in 2007 China began restricting computer game use; current laws now discourage more than three hours of daily game use.
Unfortunately, Internet addiction is resistant to treatment, entails significant risks, and has high relapse rates. Moreover, it also makes co-morbid disorders less responsive to therapy.
Source: American Journal of Psychiatry