Can People Become Addicted to Computers?

As computer use has drastically increased over the past two decades, instances of compulsive use or addictive behavior related to computers have increased as well. For some people, computer use has exacerbated an existing addiction, such as to gambling or shopping. Among adolescents in particular, addiction to video games has become problematic. Computer addiction can lead addicts to experience problems with their schoolwork or job, neglect their relationships and feel irritable while not using the computer, according to Harvard psychologist Dr. Maressa Hecht Orzack. Additionally, physical symptoms can include carpal tunnel syndrome, migraine headaches and disrupted sleep patterns.

Addiction to Video Games

• Addiction to video games is one of the most discussed manifestations of computer addiction. A recent "U.S. News and World Report" article highlighted research at Iowa State University that found about nine percent of children exhibit an addiction to gaming. Additionally, the research found that video game addictions can exacerbate existing depressive conditions. However, while psychologist Mark Griffiths told the BBC that video game addictions are severe for a minority of people, he also noted that the majority of gamers do not exhibit addictive behavior.

Other Manifestations of Computer Addiction

• Outside of video game addiction, other manifestations of computer addiction can include addiction to online shopping, online pornography or cyber relationships. Dr. David Greenfield of the Center of Internet Addiction notes to the "New England Psychologist" that because the Internet operates on a "varying reinforcement schedule" and people can constantly find new, unexpected stimuli, it offers an attraction akin to a slot machine.

Deaths from Computer Addiction

• As an extreme example of the dangers of computer addiction, the media have reported cases in which people have died as a result of prolonged computer use. In one case, a South Korean man died after reportedly playing the computer game "Starcraft" for 50 hours with only limited breaks. In another case in 2007, a Chinese man died after playing games at an Internet cafe for three days straight.

Classification Status

• While it is clear that computer addiction has negatively impacted many individuals' lives, it is not currently included in the American Psychiatric Association's "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders." However, experts such as Dr. Jerald J. Block have advocated for the inclusion of closely related disorders such as Internet addiction in the next edition of the manual. Dr. Block points out that Internet addiction, a subset of computer addiction, "is resistant to treatment, entails significant risks, and has high relapse rates."