Addictions

Internet addiction

Internet addiction, also known as Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD), Internet Behavioral Dependence (IBD) or Problematic Internet Use (PIU), is considered a behavioral or social pathology similar to other nonchemical addictions such as pathological gambling, or compulsive shopping, sex or over-eating among others and has become an international concern. There are considered several different sub-types of internet addiction such as cyber-sexual addiction for those who are addicted to pornographic or sex web sites; cyber-relationship addiction for those who are addicted to online relationships; net compulsions which include internet shopping and gambling; information overload for those who compulsively surf the web or search databases; and computer addiction which is related to compulsive playing of computer games. Generally, internet addiction is assessed and treated similar to other addictive behavior which may include the 12-step program, cognitive therapy or other therapies such as expressive art therapy.
Internet addiction is considered a behavioral addiction in that it is similar to other social pathologies and potentially addictive behavioral activities such as gambling, overeating, sex, exercise, shopping and computer game playing (Griffiths, 2001). Internet addiction is considered as one of the recent social phenomena considered as technological addictions as they are nonchemical and therefore behavioral and involve “excessive human-machine interaction [and] can either be passive (e.g., television) or active (e.g., computer games), and usually contain inducing and reinforcing features which may contribute to the promotion of addictive tendencies [and] also feature core components of addiction, including salience, mood modification, tolerance, withdrawal, conflict and relapse” (Griffiths, 2001, p. 333).
Internet addiction is considered to be a fairly broad term which refers to a number of behaviors and impulse control problems and is further categorized into five general areas: cybersexual addiction involving the use of adult websites for cybersex or porn; cyber-relationship addiction in which individuals become overly involved with those whom they have relationships with online; net compulsions, which relates to obsessive/compulsive behaviors related to such activities as online shopping, online gambling and day-trading among other similar sites; information overload which involves compulsive web surfing or database searching; and, computer addiction which usually involves obsessive computer game playing such as Doom or Solitaire etc (Griffiths, 2001).
Within the mental health field, therapists are currently learning the process used to handle “Internet Behavior Dependence” (IBD) which as a form of internet addiction is derived from the existing DSM-IV criteria for pathological gambling and substance dependence. The first definition used in the mental health industry is that of “Internet Addiction Disorder” (IAD) which is a behavioral addiction and it serves as a coping mechanism and has the six “core components” of salience, mood modification, tolerance, withdrawal symptoms, conflict and relapse and it could be the result from “the process of typing, the medium of communication, the lack of face-to-face contact, internet content (e.g., pornography) or online social activities (chat rooms, MUDs, bulletin boards, computer games)” (Hall and Parsons, 2001, p. 312).
Another definition which is also related to internet disorders is that of “Problematic Internet Use” (PIU) first introduced by Young which is based on the DSM-IV criteria for pathological gambling. To be considered an internet addict, individuals must meet five of the eight criteria for PIU which are: “1) preoccupation with internet; 2) need for longer amounts of time online; 3) repeated attempts to reduce internet use; 4) withdrawal when reducing internet use; 5) time management issues; 6) environmental distress (family, school, work, friends); 7) deception around time spent online; and, 8 ) mood modification through internet use” (Hall and Parsons, 2001, p. 312).
Recent research in the area of internet addiction has focused on what is considered one of the most vulnerable populations in regards to internet addiction; college students. College students are considered to have unique psychological and environmental factors which allow them to be particularly vulnerable to internet addiction especially as a need to adapt to cope to their developmental stressors in their relatively new environment. In addition, internet access for most college students is free which may provide further vulnerability. Researchers believe that college students are especially vulnerable in regards to their “identity formation and the establishment of intimate relationships” (Hall and Parsons, 2001, p. 312). When college students, or any other individual for that matter, wishes to test his or her identity but without the risk or exposure of a face-to-face relationship, the internet provides this unique opportunity. Through the internet “students can take on any persona they desire, without fear of judgment on appearance or personal mannerism, and can avoid racial and gender prejudice” (Hall and Parsons, 2001, p. 312).
In the mental health field, therapists’ assessments for internet addiction usually look at four main areas: internet usage, usage content, environmental distress and co-morbidity. Similar to persons with chemical or other nonchemical addictions, Rasmussen found that internet addicts described their abusive behaviors in that “they find it increasingly difficult to meet their major obligations at work, school, or home; they use longer, with less enjoyment; they are restless, irritable, and anxious when not using; they do not success in cutting down, controlling, or stopping use; and they experience physical, psychological and social problems due to their use, yet they persist in their internet behavior” (Hall and Parsons, 2001, p. 312). Intervention and treatment methods for internet addictions are also similar to those which have been used with individuals with other chemical or nonchemical addictive disorders such as cognitive behavioral therapy, the 12-step addiction program and expressive arts therapy among others (Hall and Parsons, 2001).
While internet addiction assessment, treatment programs and therapies are becoming more commonplace within the last two or three years, several professionals within the health care industry are still undecided whether or not internet addiction is an actual mental illness or whether or not overuse of the internet is not just one of the factors of another present psychiatric illness. Nevertheless, some researchers argue that because studies have shown that computer game playing on the internet releases dopamine in the nucleus accumbens, then is could be considered similar to other addictions which produce the same effect (Mitchell, 2000).
The concern of internet addiction is international in its scope as it has recently been reported in regards to national interest and concern in the Africa News Service (2002) and the Xinhua News Agency in China. Chinese psychologists are becoming increasingly aware of the occurrence of internet addiction around the world and within their own country. Chinese researcher reported that “about 300 million people around the world are believed to have the internet addiction disorder” (Xinhua, 2002). China has the third largest number of internet users, at 45.8 million, next only to that of the use in the United States and Japan.
The China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC) reported last year that “internet addiction cause an intimacy between a person and a computer and indifference to other people [and] … it has a bad influence on human health and the sufferer’s sense of responsibility. People affected can become anxious and frustrated” (Xinhua, 2002). Chinese officials also report that not only can the disease be cured by “adjusting computer usage and psychological consultation” but also there are several sites on the internet itself, designed by addicts who have overcome the disease which guide addicts through the recovery process – on the internet (Xinhua, 2002).
Overall, international concerns have increased over the psychological and social behavioral phenomenon called internet addiction also known as Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD), Internet Behavioral Dependence (IBD), or Problematic Internet Use (PIU). Regardless of the label, the symptoms, assessment and treatments for the addiction are similar to that of other nonchemical addiction disorders such as pathological gambling, or compulsive shopping, sex, or over-eating among others. There are also considered several types of internet addiction in regards to those related to cyber-sex, cyber-relationship, net compulsions, information overload and computer or gaming addiction; all of which cause individuals undue environmental distress and withdrawal among other factors related to cyber-interactions rather than face-to-face communication.