Discussion of Internet Addiction as Mental Illness Resurfaces

[Science News]

Lone Writer writes "The editorial section of the American Journal of Psychiatry for March offers the opinion that Internet addiction is a 'compulsive-impulsive' disorder, and should be added to the official guidebook of disorders. The editorial characterizes net addiction as including 'excessive gaming, [online] sexual pre-occupations and e-mail/text messaging'. From the article: 'Like other addicts, users experience cravings, urges, withdrawal and tolerance, requiring more and better equipment and software, or more and more hours online, according to Dr. Jerald Block, a psychiatrist at the Oregon Health and Science University in Portland. Dr. Block says people can lose all track of time or neglect "basic drives," like eating or sleeping. Relapse rates are high, he writes, and some people may need psychoactive medications or hospitalization."Read more of this story (http://science.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/03/18/141241&from=rss) at Slashdot.
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Discussion of Internet Addiction as Mental Illness Resurfaces (http://rss.slashdot.org/~r/Slashdot/slashdotScience/~3/253677602/article.pl)

[Raven]

I wonder if there is such thing as a google addiction. I can not get enough of it.

Rehab center for video game addicts opens in Amsterdam

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/2006/07/no_games_allowed.jpg (http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20060714-7265.html)If you're worried your World of Warcraft habit might be getting a little out of hand, you might think about checking yourself into the Wild Horses Center in Amsterdam. Their video game rehab program, which was started by addiction specialists Smith and Jones, is designed to help you replace the excitement of the fantasy world with real world experiences such as therapy sessions and group interaction. The 16th century town house, in which the patients reside, has no access to gaming of any kind, making it the perfect place to take in the non-polygonal sights the real world has to offer. Unlike the novelty cellphone addiction program (http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2006/06/08/blackberry-detox-offered-at-chicago-area-hotel/) being implemented at a Chicago Hotel, Wild Horses is staffed with certified psychologists and addiction specialists that can offer legitimate help to those unwilling to leave their games to have a social life or even use the bathroom. With impressive next-generation consoles like the Wii (http://www.engadget.com/search/?q=wii) and the PS3 (http://www.engadget.com/search/?q=ps3) promising an even more engrossing gaming experience in the near future, we can't help but think this kind of facility might start popping up in other parts of the world as well. Since there probably isn't one in your area yet, we suggest you follow these instructions for making your own game addiction patch. First, tear off two pieces of duct tape. Second, place one piece of the duct tape over the A/V inputs on your TV and the other over the ASDW keys on your keyboard. Then go outside already, would you?

Source (http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/15/rehab-center-for-video-game-addicts-opens-in-amsterdam/)

[popowich]

I have an xbox 360. I even got into Halo 3. But going into fantasy therapy land? Wow! Maybe for those types that spend every waking hour inside their virtual worlds and never walk away from the computer.

-Raymond

[Raven]

I heard the rehabs for this is cropping up all over the place now.

I have an xbox 360. I even got into Halo 3. But going into fantasy therapy land? Wow! Maybe for those types that spend every waking hour inside their virtual worlds and never walk away from the computer.

-Raymond

[popowich]

My Halo career was short lived.

I'm not very good, and I think I reached the top rank I'm going to achieve.

-Raymond

[THERESA]

I have an xbox 360. I even got into Halo 3. But going into fantasy therapy land? Wow! Maybe for those types that spend every waking hour inside their virtual worlds and never walk away from the computer.

-Raymond

I used to be bad about poker playing online. For me it was because I felt depressed and it was an escape. I don't play that often anymore.

[Raven]

For me it is googling. CRAZY eh. I love the results I get.

I used to be bad about poker playing online. For me it was because I felt depressed and it was an escape. I don't play that often anymore.

[Raven]

I can see the 12 step now.

"I am a addict and I want to go WII" :p


But going into fantasy therapy land?

[esnagel]

I'm addicted to one game: Civ IV. It's currently in the box, on the shelf. I can't just play for a little bit.

[popowich]

The game I played the most was Action Quake II, a mod for Quake II.

I must have been playing that game from 1998 to like 2002.

I never got tired of it and even ran a fairly popular server for it.

-Raymond

[Kaos]

I'm an XBox fanatic, only when I get stressed but no game in particular, I just like to escape and avoid life sometimes, mostly night when the kids are asleep and the house is finally quiet. I was addicted to the internet when I started out in this business I think, but more because of the drive to succeed then the internet itself. I used to work literally 14-18 hour days. It was crazy! I did seem to recover though without a 12 step program luckily :comp26::gah:

[popowich]

Do you play any games on XBOX Live? What is your gamer tag?

-Raymond

[Kaos]

I have the original XBox.... old piece of crap LOL The thing is now freezing on me, never got the newer systems to go live on, but I think that would be fun!

[THERESA]

I still play Super Nintendo :hide: