August 18, 2007
Internet Addiction More Serious Than OCD
According to researchers at Tel Aviv University's Sackler Faculty of Medicine, 10 percent of Internet surfers are afflicted with "Internet addiction disorder," which can lead to other disorders.
Dr. Pinhas Dannon will present new research findings on Internet addiction at the National Gambling Council’s meeting in Las Vegas this November. He believes that in order to better diagnose and treat Internet addiction, it should be grouped with other extreme addictive disorders such as gambling, sex addiction, and kleptomania. Internet addiction is currently considered by mental health professionals as an Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
According to Dr Dannon, "two groups are at greatest risk from Internet addiction disorder. The first are teenagers. But more surprisingly, the second are women and men in their mid-50s suffering from the loneliness of an "empty nest." The symptoms of Internet addiction in both groups are vague and are often difficult to diagnose. Sufferers may experience loss of sleep, anxiety when not online, isolation from family and peer groups, loss of work, and periods of deep depression." It is his belief that Internet addiction is not manifesting itself as an ‘urge’ but more like a deep ‘craving.’ And that clinicians need to make a change in the way we classify Internet addiction, so it can be properly treated.
A recent article by Dr Dannon in Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology
United Press International Press Release
Psychosocial Parameters of Internet Addiction
from State University of NY at Albany
PubMed Search on Internet Addiction
Paper: Internet Addiction Disorder: Causes, Symptoms,and Consequences
Pathological Computer Game Use
Jerald Block, MD
Description and History of Internet Addiction at Wikipedia
Posted by rsk at August 18, 2007 09:27 AM