You may have heard the term Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD) on the news or in the newspaper; however, it is not an official diagnosis in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) nor is it proposed for the new version (DSM-V).
The psychiatric community continues to debate Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD) and may include it as an official diagnosis at some time in the future.
Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD), defined by Wikipedia, is excessive computer use that interferes with daily life. Other terms synonymous with IAD are: internet overuse, problematic computer use or pathological computer use.
Communication Addiction Disorder is a behavior disorder related to the necessity of being in constant communication with other people, even when there is no practical necessity for such communication is said to be linked to IAD.
Any type of online activities such as: playing computer games, reading, online shopping, online gambling, watching staggering amounts of internet videos or movies can all cause problems is done to the extent that the activity interferes with normal daily life.
Computer Addiction is a mental illness which causes the excessive use of computers to the extent that it interferes with daily life. Excessive use may explain problems in social interaction, mood, personality, work ethic, relationships, thought processes, or sleep deprivation.
So it sounds like any behavior done in excess to the point that it interferes with normal daily activities can be an addictive behavior. Addictive behavior is defined as any activity, substance, object, or behavior that becomes the major focus of a person’s life resulting in a physical, mental, and/or social withdrawal from their normal day to day obligations.
It really doesn’t matter whether the behavior is called Internet Addiction Disorder, Communication Addiction Disorder or Computer Addiction once a behavior becomes obsessive help is needed.
For teenagers, often the best way to deal with Internet Addiction is to remove them from their environment to get treatment.
Triumph Youth Services offers a small, highly structured family environment for youth. This family-like community promotes a social environment that takes on both therapeutic and healing properties instead of maintaining negative behaviors.
They have been successful in helping teenagers with a variety of issues. Their staff members are trained and encouraged to be effective leaders by serving as teachers or coaches who hold the young men responsible for working on problems and to act as limit setters and good listeners.
The clinicians at Triumph Youth Services are highly trained and have extensive experience working with adolescent youth.
Reference:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_addiction_disorder
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Addictive_behavior
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_addiction
