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Research & Treatment of Internet Addiction

Internet addiction is a social problem in which a person spends excessive time on Internet activities such as shopping, video games or instant messaging. Research in China and South Korea shows it to be a common problem, but there are few studies on treatments.

  1. Internet Addiction

    • According to the American Journal of Psychiatry, Internet addiction has four components. A person suffering from addiction will show excessive use of the Internet, feel withdrawal symptoms when a computer is unavailable, develop a need for more hours of use and experience negative repercussions such as poor performance in a job or school.

    Research

    • Most of the research on Internet addiction has been done in South Korea, where 1.2 million people are believed to be at risk. A study of 2,620 Chinese high school students found a much lower incidence of internet addiction--less than 3 percent. Compared with peers, these students tended to be shy and depressed, and have low self-esteem.

    Psychological Health

    • A study of 1,573 high school students in South Korea found that 1.6 percent of the students fit the criteria for Internet addiction, while another 38 percent were at risk for developing an addiction. The students who were diagnosed with Internet addiction had much higher rates of depression and suicidal ideation than their peers.

    Treatment

    • There are few studies on the treatment of Internet addiction. Cognitive behavior therapy, a type of therapy that targets unhealthy behaviors and negative thoughts, has been proposed as a possible treatment for internet addiction. Behavioral changes may also help. As of 2010, no medications are approved for Internet addiction.

    Considerations

    • Psychologists are considering Internet addiction as a possible addition to the DSM-V, the medical reference book for psychological disorders. Countries such as China and South Korea already have treatment centers and prevention programs in place; however, psychologists in the United States are still researching this disorder.

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