Internet addictions: A real medical menace?

Mon Mar 24, 2008 12:20PM EDT

See Comments (413)

Alcohol, drugs, food, sex, and even shopping are all candidates for medical treatment and are recognized as genuine mental disorders, so what about the Internet? Internet addiction -defined as "excessive gaming, sexual pre-occupations, and email/text messaging" - is becoming so common that at least one psychiatrist says it merits inclusion in psychiatry's official handbook of mental illness, the "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders."

Dr. Jerald Block of the Oregon Health and Science University is the latest voice pushing for this inclusion, noting that tech junkies display genuinely debilitating behavior, including drug-like cravings, withdrawal, and a constant need for more and better gear - just like a substance addict might exhibit.

But other doctors comment that Internet addiction, while it may be real, is too new of a condition and needs further study before being medically classified. There might be something to this: No one wants people being medicated or institutionalized if they aren't genuinely ill.

The "Manual of Mental Disorders" won't be published again until 2012, but an early draft will arrive for public comment in 2009. Meanwhile, mind docs say the problem is growing, now possibly affecting up to 10 percent of Internet users. Recent studies are surprising, indicating the problem is worst not among game-obsessed teens, but rather among middle-aged women who stay at home, constantly on the computer as a way of connecting to the outside world.

Is computer use (or computer downtime) causing a problem in your life? If so, you might be an addict. But you'll have to wait a few more years to find out for sure.

POLL: How many hours a day are you on the Net? 

Comments on Internet addictions: A real medical menace?

Post a Comment

Join in the discussion. Here you'll see the comments in the order they were posted.

  • 26 Posted by eggnogbrownie on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:52PM EDT Report Abuse

    I'm kind of addicted to the Internet as well, but I don't think it's necessarily a bad thing. If you're a stay-home mom and your kids are all grown-up, you have nothing to do anyway. If you live in a middle-of-the-country (like Cleveland or Nevada), there's nothing much you could do either. At least the Internet is giving these people something to do.

  • 27 Posted by mr.mousy on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:27PM EDT Report Abuse

    AH yes, a "new addiction" so that the doctors can make even more money =(! I fail to see how one can become addicted to the internet. If this is true, you can become addicted to your car, driving, walking, running, jogging, cement (ok, maybe not :P), etc. etc. etc. etc.! Pretty soon we will have "cement addicts" (people who sit and watch cement all-day), and doctors who can "cure them" 0.0 -.-!

  • 28 Posted by go2michelle on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:10PM EDT Report Abuse

    My husband uses his computer all day for his business...but he's on it until all hours of the night and weekends too....it never stops. It's a real dissapointment. I feel I have to compete for attention. Me, I'm on it sometimes...but not too much.

  • 29 Posted by dancefoevernow on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:34PM EDT Report Abuse

    lets see im on like about 40 hours a week but wat do u expext cyberschool so yea im isabella and im a computer addict

  • 30 Posted by nativebenz on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:34PM EDT Report Abuse

    great now there talking about computer illness...next thing you know there going to go for the camping.. stop making up ----- its all about the money!

  • 31 Posted by ackerman78 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:45PM EDT Report Abuse

    It seems an underlying deficit in many of these disorders is impulsivity and an inability to regulate voluntary behavior (which then makes it seem like involuntary behavior to the addicted person). Does it make sense to add a shopping disorder, gaming disorder, or compulsive eating disorder to the DSM-V? Possibly, but why not create a general compulsion disorder category with subtypes. I'm not hung up on whether this is a "real medical diagnosis" or not. Compulsive internet use is becoming a major social issue internationally and can adversely affect people. These people could probably benefit from behavioral interventions. Medication would probably be a short-lived and ineffective treatment choice in this instance, though research is far behind where it needs to be.

  • 32 Posted by growlnroar on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:13PM EDT Report Abuse

    I can understand the need for inclusion into the next DSM revision. It seems a bit problematic that they don't publish a new manual more frequently. The upcoming edition would be the 5th in over 50 years. That's not nearly reflexive enough to reflect our changing society.

  • 33 Posted by glauber_f_acquati on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:10PM EDT Report Abuse

    I can't stay more than ten minutes without checking my personal e-mails. Sometimes it really get's difficult to focus on the things I have to do at work. Can I be considered addicted to it?

  • 34 Posted by angelflennory on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:54PM EDT Report Abuse

    Is it better than drugs and alcohol? I think not because it takes over a person's life.What was everyone doing before the internet took off into what it is now?It's o.k. sometimes but not being able to stay off of it for even a day-Yeah I'd call it addiction & mental illness.Get back to being in the REAL life and REAL world people!!!!

  • 35 Posted by amh92592 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:52PM EDT Report Abuse

    im a computer addict .. and it suuuucks i spend all day after i come from school on the computer and when i dont got school i wake up and go straight to it this addiction is messing me up! =[

  • 36 Posted by gothik_freek203 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:11PM EDT Report Abuse

    i am deffinatly adicted, infact so, that i use the internet on my ps3 when i cant get on the computer.

  • 37 Posted by artistchamp on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:58PM EDT Report Abuse

    I think it's funny how this is posted ON THE INTERNET. I guess the docs are addicted to explaining that what they are doing is/ could be a "serious" addiction. It's not like smoking where internet kills ur insides or anything....I AM addicted but I don't care!

  • 41 Posted by japanimaniac13 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:28PM EDT Report Abuse

    All those in favor of starting a "Internet Anonymous" chatgroup say "I". xD Aah, irony.

  • 42 Posted by bobaloo2u2002 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:10PM EDT Report Abuse

    HA! I could quit using the internet anytime I want to. I just don't want to.

  • 43 Posted by lagooncrow on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:55PM EDT Report Abuse

    What about TV addiction? I'd say this is far more of a problem, and even more serious than web addiction, which could be valid. At least with Web addiction, there is some interaction and thought involved - you often have to click, type, and perhaps even put a semi-coherent sentence or two together to participate. With TV, millions of people turn it on, then completely check out (mentally) for hours a day. So why is TV not leading the investigation into mental illness ahead of the web? Hmmmm. I'd also submit that owning a dog is a form of mental illness, based on many dog owners I know, but one societal crisis at a time, I suppose....

  • 44 Posted by me_the_big_b on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:17PM EDT Report Abuse

    hi my name is adelbert and i have a problem I CANT GET OFF THE COMPUTER!!!!!!!!!

  • 45 Posted by blaque_marine on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:09PM EDT Report Abuse

    Ok so what actual symptoms denote an addiction to the net? I read an interestig article on...I'm just kidding. I am addicted too gosh darn it.

Post a Comment

Sign In to Post a Comment

My Tech

Please enable your browser's cookies to activate the My Tech column.

Also on Yahoo! Tech

Computers Home Office Wi-Fi & Networking Phones & PDAs Cameras & Camcorders TV & Home Theater Portable Audio
 

Site Map | Tour | Subscribe to Yahoo! Tech

Question and Answer content at Yahoo! Tech is written by Yahoo! users at Yahoo! Answers. Yahoo! does not evaluate or guarantee the accuracy of any Yahoo! Answers content. For more information, read the Full Disclaimer.

Opinions expressed by the Advisors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Yahoo! Inc. Yahoo! receives no compensation from any manufacturer or distributor nor does it compensate any Advisor for the coverage of any product or service in any Advisor's content.