Push to Classify Internet Addiction as a Mental Disorder

An editorial to be published in the American Journal of Psychiatry argues that Internet addiction is a common compulsive-impulsive disorder that should be added to psychiatry’s official guidebook of mental disorders.

Report author Dr. Jerald Block defines Internet addiction as including “excessive gaming, sexual preoccupations and email/text messaging.” Block says that those suffering Internet addiction experience cravings, urges, withdrawal and tolerance, requiring more and better equipment and software, or more and more hours online.

Read the rest of this post