The Dark Side of the Internet

1/8 Americans exhibit internet "addiction"
Tuesday, October 24, 2006 WAMC interview re: Internet Addiction 60 min (WMP file)

* Dr. Elias Aboujaoude, Professor of Psychiatry, Stanford University's Impulse Control Disorders Clinic; and Lead author of Internet Behavior Study (published in "CNS Spectrums: The International Journal of Neuropsychiatric Medicine")
4% preoccupied with internet venues
6% affected personal relationship
9% conceal usage
12% stayed longer than intended
14% felt difficult to stay away from Internet for multiple days in the world
Study DOES NOT call it an Internet Addiction because there is no official criteria to define it as addictive!
- used questions to extrapolate from parallel concerns: obsessive compulsive disorder, impulse control issues, substance abuse

* Kent Norman, Professor of Cognitive Psychology and Director, Laboratory for Automation Psychology and Decision Processes, University of Maryland; Author of (forthcoming) "Cyberpsychology: An Introduction to the Psychology of Human and Computer Interaction" (Cambridge)
Kent's criteria to monitor concern - behavioral "addiction" markers
salience - can't stop thinking about it - thinking about being online even when offline
mood modification - "high," uphoria
tolerance - need more and more
withdraw - what do I do when no Internet available (i.e. on vacation)
conflict - esp with family members and work collegues, also internal voice
relapse - go back online after getting off

* Patricia Wallace, Director, Information Technology and Distance Programs at the Center for Talented Youth, Johns Hopkins University; and author, "The Psychology of the Internet" (Cambridge) and "The Internet in the Workplace" (Cambridge)
web stickiness - advertising created
rewards - affirm activity online (gaming, auctions, etc)
addiction is problematic term because no substance involved, no intoxicant
most internet use is productive - watch for markers exhibited by a few people

* Lee Rainie, Founding Director, Pew Internet & American Life Project- contrast compulsive behavior in life with those who are compulsive online
- most online users are productive, enriched social lives, some pain however many more happy and fulfilled


SELECTED RESOURCES RE: UNITED STATES and "INTERNET "ADDICTION" from PubMed, A service of the U S National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health (http://www.pubmed.gov)

Internet addiction: recognition and interventions. Arch Psychiatr Nurs. 2008 Apr;22(2):59-60.
J J Fitzpatrick .
No abstract available.

Issues for DSM-V: internet addiction.
Am J Psychiatry. 2008 Mar;165(3):306-7.
J J Block.
No abstract available.

Internet addiction : definition, assessment, epidemiology and clinical management.
CNS Drugs. 2008;22(5):353-65.
Martha Shaw, Donald W Black.
Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, USA.

Internet addiction is characterized by excessive or poorly controlled preoccupations, urges or behaviours regarding computer use and internet access that lead to impairment or distress. The condition has attracted increasing attention in the popular media and among researchers, and this attention has paralleled the growth in computer (and Internet) access.Prevalence estimates vary widely, although a recent random telephone survey of the general US population reported an estimate of 0.3-0.7%. The disorder occurs worldwide, but mainly in countries where computer access and technology are widespread. Clinical samples and a majority of relevant surveys report a male preponderance. Onset is reported to occur in the late 20s or early 30s age group, and there is often a lag of a decade or more from initial to problematic computer usage. Internet addiction has been associated with dimensionally measured depression and indicators of social isolation. Psychiatric co-morbidity is common, particularly mood, anxiety, impulse control and substance use disorders. Aetiology is unknown, but probably involves psychological, neurobiological and cultural factors.There are no evidence-based treatments for internet addiction. Cognitive behavioural approaches may be helpful. There is no proven role for psychotropic medication. Marital and family therapy may help in selected cases, and online self-help books and tapes are available. Lastly, a self-imposed ban on computer use and Internet access may be necessary in some cases.

A Review of the Research on Internet Addiction
Educational Psychology Review. 2005, Vol. 17, No. 4: 363
Chien Chou, Linda Condron, John C. Belland

Research indicates that maladaptive patterns of Internet use constitute behavioral addiction. This article explores the research on the social effects of Internet addiction. There are four major sections. The Introduction section overviews the field and introduces definitions, terminology, and assessments. The second section reviews research findings and focuses on several key factors related to Internet addiction, including Internet use and time, identifiable problems, gender differences, psychosocial variables, and computer attitudes. The third section considers the addictive potential of the Internet in terms of the Internet, its users, and the interaction of the two. The fourth section addresses current and projected treatments of Internet addiction, suggests future research agendas, and provides implications for educational psychologists.

Modification in the proposed diagnostic criteria for Internet addiction. Cyberpsychol Behav. 2001 Jun;4(3):377-83.
K W Beard , E M Wolf.
School of Professional Psychology, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio, USA.

The Internet is a new technology that has impacted the world and provided many benefits to its users. At the same time the Internet has had negative ramifications. Some people are becoming preoccupied with the Internet, are unable to control their use, and are jeopardizing employment and relationships. The concept of "Internet addiction" has been proposed as an explanation for uncontrollable, damaging use of this technology. Symptoms of excessive Internet use are compared to the criteria used to diagnose other addictions. In particular, pathological gambling is compared to problematic Internet use because of overlapping criteria. This article suggests some modifications to the diagnostic criteria that has been commonly proposed for Internet addiction.
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Canadian Medical Association Journal (http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/)

Internet addiction: a new disorder enters the medical lexicon. CMAJ. 1996 June 15; 154(12): 1882–1883.
M OReilly

The latest consequence of the information age may be addiction to the Internet. A psychologist who has established the Centre for Online Addiction in the US says the disorder causes the same type of social problems as other established addictions. Michael OReilly went on line to find physicians interested in discussing potential problems posed by the Internet. (Full article - .pdf)