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"Internet addiction is a 'clinical disorder'

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[Image copyright via J.Pittman, 2008.]

Internet addiction is a 'clinical disorder'

Obsessive internet use is a public health problem which is so serious it should be officially recognised as a clinical disorder, according to a leading psychiatrist.

British psychiatrists have previously reported that between five and 10 per cent of online users are internet addicts
Sufferers spend unhealthy amounts of time playing online games, viewing pornography or emailing.

They suffer four symptoms: They forget to eat and sleep; they need more advanced technology or more hours online as they develop 'resistance' to the pleasure given by their current system; if they are deprived of their computer, they experience genuine withdrawal symptoms; And in common with other addictions, the victims also begin to have more arguments, to suffer fatigue, to get lower marks in tests and to feel isolated from society.

Early research into the subject found highly educated, socially awkward men were the most likely sufferers but more recent work suggests it is now more of a problem for middle-aged women who are spending hours at home on their computers.

Psychiatrist Dr Jerald Block said some sufferers were so addicted to the internet that they required medication or even hospital treatment to curb the time they spent on the web.

He said: "The relationship is with the computer. It becomes a significant other to them. They exhaust emotions that they could experience in the real world on the computer through any number of mechanisms: emailing, gaming, porn."

He added: "It's much more acceptable for kids to talk about game use, whereas adults keep it a secret. Rather than having sex, or arguing with their wife or husband, or feeding their children, these adults are playing games."

Dr Block, of the Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, in the USA, first made the claims in an editorial for the American Journal of Psychiatry.

British psychiatrists have previously reported that between five and 10 per cent of online users are internet addicts.

    Posted: Jun 22, 2008 at 3:40 pm / Email this  »
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    67 comments to “Headline of the Week Weak”

    1. brean says – reply to this


      1

      first

    2. Cayla says – reply to this


      2

      I'm sure it is!

    3. steph says – reply to this


      3

      makes sense to me.
      first?!

    4. Kate says – reply to this


      4

      Lame

    5. costa says – reply to this


      5

      first

    6. Kate says – reply to this


      6

      Laaaame.

    7. Erin says – reply to this


      7

      I AM ADDICTED

    8. Amy says – reply to this


      8

      First!

    9. NOFUK says – reply to this


      9

      ANY ADDICTION IS MENTAL

    10. EEH says – reply to this


      10

      Addiction Kills.

    11. me says – reply to this


      11

      1st of many

    12. sophi says – reply to this


      12

      oh crap.

    13. krist says – reply to this


      13

      firstttt

    14. sam says – reply to this


      14

      FIRSTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT

    15. rihan says – reply to this


      15

      FIRST!!!!!!!! suck on that whores!

    16. Perez says – reply to this


      16

      I am Perez, my clothes for sale all suck, I'm a fatass loser, and will likely die within the year (hopefully)



    17. 17

      Haha, I think I used to have that.

    18. denis says – reply to this


      18

      Lol, my dad shut internet off for a couple days and I was seriously going insane, talking about being addicted.

    19. luis says – reply to this


      19

      hummm-…. i need hospitalization PRONTO

    20. what says – reply to this


      20

      oh hey i have that disorder.



    21. 21

      i recognize my symptoms, LOL…

    22. Anon says – reply to this


      22

      I can dig it!

    23. Saman says – reply to this


      23

      Ummm I don't think they forget to eat. There are alot of fatasses on the internet. Look at youtube.

    24. AB says – reply to this


      24

      i spend atleast 10 hours a day on the comp … and most of it is on Perez … SAD



    25. 25

      wow

    26. tamta says – reply to this


      26

      hey!! thats me. lol first

    27. livin says – reply to this


      27

      people wtthis add.should die:]byeee.

    28. lexi says – reply to this


      28

      i know i'm addicted!

    29. jul says – reply to this


      29

      i just read that whole article

    30. LH says – reply to this


      30

      Could be, but the study has no authority.

    31. Brahm says – reply to this


      31

      Bullshit! You can't have withdrawal symptoms from something that doesn't affect you physically. Psychiatrists can't be trusted.

    32. Candy says – reply to this


      32

      Re: Brahm – Your retarded, you obviously know nothing about addictions

    33. Jenn says – reply to this


      33

      Wow. It's about time. I wonder if I can sue AOL cuz it caused me to drop out of college back in '95. Seriously. If the smoker can sue and win why can't I?

    34. DLR says – reply to this


      34

      for sure! when there's nothing on the telly, it is easy to spend hours on the internet just reading drivel like perez hilton. :D

    35. Jenn says – reply to this


      35

      Re: Brahm –

      Obviously you have not met my husband. Withdrawal is an understatement.

    36. Angel says – reply to this


      36

      LIBERALS SUCK BIG HAIRY COCK. THEY ARE THE REASON WE ARE PAYING HIGH GAS PRICES. THEY WONT LET US DRILL HERE AND NOW. THEY WON'T ALLOW NEW REFINERIES. BARACK IS GOING DOWN IN NOVEMBER! DOWN, I SAY!

    37. David says – reply to this


      37

      So is it going to be put in the new DSM in 2010?

    38. sui says – reply to this


      38

      Dr Rand Pink sells OB/GYN Technologies to Bristol Meuers Sqibb for $464 Million Dollars.Announcement to follow via MedPharma Netscience



    39. 39

      Rather internet than drugs, alcohol, smoking, and other related activities.

    40. nikos says – reply to this


      40

      think this could be you sweety ? :)

    41. lani says – reply to this


      41

      Re: Angel – so you're selfish enough to destroy out earth for future generations just so you can have cheap gas prices now?

    42. Haley says – reply to this


      42

      ahaha.
      I get withdrawal symptoms when my dad takes my phone.

    43. mdf says – reply to this


      43

      Well of course it is! It's one more reason to prescribe medication and one more reason for therapists to have a job! No doubt this assessment has the full support of pharmaceutical companies……



    44. 44

      hahaha.
      its probably true..and all of US are also addicts :)
      at least we wont DIE from it..right?

    45. tamta says – reply to this


      45

      I AM ADDICTED and suffer from a eating disorder. but i love myself

    46. Katy says – reply to this


      46

      wow i must be an addict i spend almost all day till 5 in the morning online drinking coffee and only away to eat,potty,or smoke.

    47. AZ says – reply to this


      47

      Sign me up for this!

    48. moniQ says – reply to this


      48

      i believe it. for surre

    49. leu says – reply to this


      49

      Ihave all those symptoms…..I wonder



    50. 50

      I am this… ah well..

    51. stalk says – reply to this


      51

      i spend so much time on here i even make up profiles of other people on social networks and stalk other girls because i will never have any girl friends so i moved by myself a girl across the state only to work in a warehouse(take about bad k) so not only am i mental ill i cant find a friend or make girl friends or look like a slim girl without a back of a man so i make more profiles up of other people because i cant even stand my own reflection. but i love my life and my family who didnt even come to my graduation. i love my life. and my lisbo mom! and father who touched me. i am addicted to perez hilton and working on my eating disorder

    52. lizzi says – reply to this


      52

      LOL
      damn
      thats me

    53. Chad says – reply to this


      53

      I used to visit here be4 until perez ruind my life…i was addicted to celebs and i wanted to BE ONE JUST LIKE ALL OF YA"LL..I WANTED TO BE STNKING RICH JUST LKE ALL OF YA"LL …but now thats a BYE-BYE …thnkfully..but i pity the rest of yull .. still addicted to them .. STILL WANNABEEZ!

    54. Elain says – reply to this


      54

      helle

    55. Chad says – reply to this


      55

      I used to visit here be4 until perez ruind my life…i was addicted to celebs and i wanted to BE ONE JUST LIKE ALL OF YA"LL..I WANTED TO BE STNKING RICH JUST LKE ALL OF YA"LL …but now thats a BYE-BYE …thnkfully..but i pity the rest of yull .. still addicted to them .. STILL GAY WANNABEEZ! SAD..

    56. Leah says – reply to this


      56

      This article is lame. Who cares if people get addicted to the net. Its fun. I dont get why people care so much about what other people are addicted to.



    57. 57

      So What!!

    58. Acid- says – reply to this


      58

      yeah ,thnx to perez

    59. lavit says – reply to this


      59

      OMG! That is so me…I go to sleep late sometimes just cuz i wanna be on the internet..and half the time, Im not really doing anything just browsing or finding something to do XD

    60. Ansle says – reply to this


      60

      Yeah yeah yeah. Classify it as a general addiction. You can grow addicted to most anything - overpriced coffee, soap operas, carrots, whatever….



    61. 61

      it happens…..

      But I think its better than other addictions.. being addicted to food, sex, alcohol and drugs kills you faster.

    62. monik says – reply to this


      62

      this is funny. my mother came to mind actually.. i don't even know why.. but i can truly belive this in todays world.



    63. 63

      LOL… that's sad.

    64. kames says – reply to this


      64

      Re: Jenn – it's no the same because cigarets cause known physical harm while the internet does not though it may lead to consequential tribulations but those are evidence of misbehavior

      sadly enough, i recognize the symptoms
      this may have been a problem but i have greater control now
      it only exists because i project my personal attributes onto this online egocracy
      it won't be long though before it's epidemic and a casual aspect of life as is a driver's test …

    65. bjfnr says – reply to this


      65

      For all you guys say it's ridiculous. Let me tell you something, I feel empty when I'm not near my computer. If you're a young kid, get off the internet! Go hang out with friends. I've lost all my friends because of my addiction. I don't even do anything important on here (Except for the occasional paper)

    66. Bill says – reply to this


      66

      Re: bjfnr – Bite me Camille… seriously..Re: bjfnr –

    67. jayan says – reply to this


      67

      I believe it…sad…sometimes I think I have this. but it's not that severe.