I may soon be officially classified with a brain illness... According to the editorial of the latest issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry: Internet addiction -- including "excessive gaming, sexual pre-occupations and e-mail/text messaging" -- is a common compulsive-impulsive disorder that should be added to psychiatry's official guidebook of mental disorders.
According to Dr. Jerald Block, a psychiatrist at the Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, similar to other addicts, users experience cravings, urges, withdrawal and tolerance, requiring more and better equipment and software, or more and more hours online. Relapse rates are high and some people may need psychoactive medications or hospitalization.
When you need help with your web addiction, there are already resources to help out:
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Internet Addiction
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop innovative therapies or interventions to treat internet addiction and help users regain control over their online activities.
- Excessive Gaming
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create innovative solutions or technologies that promote healthy gaming habits and prevent excessive gaming addiction.
- Compulsive-impulsive Disorder
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Design new psychiatric treatments or approaches to address compulsive-impulsive disorders related to internet use, such as excessive e-mailing or texting.
Where This Applies
- Psychiatry
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop new therapeutic approaches, medications, or digital tools to treat internet addiction and compulsive-impulsive disorders associated with online activities.
- Gaming and Entertainment
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create innovative gaming technologies or platforms that encourage a balanced and healthy relationship with gaming, reducing the risk of addiction.
- Digital Health
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Leverage digital health solutions to provide personalized interventions and support programs for individuals struggling with internet addiction and compulsive-impulsive disorders.
