He might get burned, but he's in the game.
And once he's in, he can't go back,
He'll beat his wings 'til he burns them black....."
from "The Moth" by Aimee Mann
A new version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) is slated for release in May of 2013. This manual, released by the American Psychiatric Association (APA), is the definitive text that sets criteria for standardizing definitions and coding of Mental Disorders for purposes of research and billing.
There has been a debate about including Internet Addiction in the new version. It has not been addressed in previous DSM texts, but is slated for inclusion in an appendix of disorders requiring further study for possible inclusion at a later date.
Dr. Kim Young, from St. Bonaventure University in NY presented the first paper referring to Internet Addiction as an emerging disorder in 1996. Since that time, it has been estimated that 1 in 8 Americans and as many as 30% of young South Koreans, Chinese and Tawainese citizens suffer from problematic internet use. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/28/internet-addiction_n_1385587.html This article, from March 28, also includes a written account and a short video of two different people detailing the challenges they have faced with internet usage that got out of hand.
On her website for the Center for Internet Addiction, Dr. Kim lists several criteria for having an internet disorder including: Internet preoccupation; need to use the Internet with increasing amounts of time in order to achieve satisfaction; unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back, or stop Internet use; feeling restless, moody, depressed, or irritable when attempting to cut down or stop Internet use; staying online longer than originally intended; jeopardizing or risking the loss of a significant relationship, job, educational or career opportunity because of the Internet; lying to family members, therapist, or others to conceal the extent of involvement with the Internet; and using the Internet as a way of escaping from problems or of relieving a dysphoric mood (e.g., feelings of helplessness, guilt, anxiety, depression).
According to a 2008 editorial in the American Journal of Psychiatry by Dr.Jerald Block, there is merit for placing Internet Addiction in the DSM-5. He said by not being recognized as a disorder, those who seek treatment are usually forced to pay expenses out of pocket. That, combined with a high incidence of relapse and comorbid conditions like ADHD and depression that become harder to treat, make it a problem in need of a solution. http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/article.aspx?articleid=99602
While I certainly am not an expert on Internet Addiction, from watching a family member's struggles I know this can be a debilitating issue. It caused a National Merit Scholar on a full academic scholarship to drop out of school without informing his parents. His days were consumed with gaming to the extent that nothing else mattered. After returning home, he decided to try school again. The University he was attending agreed to let him back in, however they withdrew all previously awarded scholarships. He lasted one semester before leaving again. Once home a second time, he got a low-paying job but spent all of his free time gaming. The net result was boredom with the job combined with loss of sleep from internet use caused him to walk away from his position. At 26, he is still fighting the lure of gratification he gets when he is in front of the computer monitor fighting others in imaginary duels. Therefore, I would have to support inclusion of Internet Addiction in the DSM-5. If there is not enough data compiled for distinction as a diagnosis, then setting a standard of criteria for validity in testing is the next logical step.
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