All the latest UK technology news, reviews and analysis
|
|
|
19 Mar 2008
Excessive gaming and email/text messaging should be added to psychiatry's official guidebook of mental disorders, according to an article in this month's American Journal of Psychiatry.
Dr Jerald J Block, the article's author, outlined four distinct symptoms displayed by sufferers.
Withdrawal and an associated sense of anger or depression when users cannot reach a computer, the constant need for better equipment and the feeling of social isolation and fatigue are all signs of technology-related mental disorders.
"Attempts to measure the phenomenon are clouded by shame, denial and minimisation," said Dr Block.
The conditions are difficult to treat because internet addiction is " resistant to treatment, entails significant risks and has high relapse rates".
Dr Block said that the problem is most acute in South Korea where internet addiction is one of the country's "most serious public health issues".
"Using data from 2006, the South Korean government estimates that approximately 210,000 South Korean children are afflicted and require treatment, " said Dr Block.
South Korea set up a network of 140 'tough love' rehabilitation centres in November 2006 in a bid to curb the growth of internet addiction among the country's teenaged population.
Latest stories from Management
Related articles
Related jobs
Poll
What is the most important IT priority for your company this year?
Connect with V3.co.uk
This paper focuses on a series of best practices and techniques for development teams looking to improve their software development processes
Why good data management at all levels is essential in the modern business (video, 6mins)
My client is a well established, non profit organisation;...
PHP Web Developer – £30,000 - £35,000 PHP, MySQL, HTML...
HEAD OF DIGITAL - London - £80-95K + Excellent Bens...
Agile C# Developer - (North London) £55,000 - £65,000...
Keep up to date with the latest products, services and technologies from the world's leading IT companies. IThound.com brings you over 2,000 white papers, case studies and analyst reports.
Do you agree?
Limit kids' Internet time
Some time ago I had only one problem with my child. He spent too much time on the Internet. To my opinion, the internet is an excellent resource for children. It provides help with their homework, communication with teachers and their friends. That is why I did not want to restrict internet access at all. I found one that suits my needs perfectly called Ez Internet Timer. Today I can easily schedule when to stop all children?s on-line activity.
Posted by: Jannet 06 Jan 2009
What he said! (Nick)
These so-called professionals lack basic understanding of why people play games/spend time online. Computer Games have always been addictive - this so-called expert forgets, or is ignorant of how many kids spent lots of their money and time in arcades, or playing their Atari! Addiction? Im not sure, but its not in the alcoholic or drugs sense. I was one of those people whom spent many hours a day playing games, or chatting online, but I still have a great career, social life and time to do other things so it cant be as bad as they say. Nick, I fear the worst thing will be that some people wont even see the point you make or the humour in what you wrote!
Posted by: Dre 28 Mar 2008
Sad... but true.
Absolutely right; and this is just the tip of the iceberg! People who spend significant proportions of theie time listening to music, or watching television, should be added to this category. I think that it would also be quite justifiable to include those who send more than 30 text messages in a day, eat more than 15 biscuits, think about sex more than once per minute, forget things occasionally, have more than one eye or talk with their mouth open, should really be added to the loony pile. Sheeesh... That still leaves me clear, though, 'cos I'm a teapot, short and stout; here's my handle, here's my spout... blah. I hope this made you laugh. Laughing is good: I do it all the time hahahahahaahahahahahahahahahaha.... hah!
Posted by: Nick 20 Mar 2008
ridiculous!
this is absolutely ridiculous, there are illnesses out there that are obviously mental disorders. namely alcoholism, that they will not classify as a mental disorder, so therefore people cannot get the help that they need!
Posted by: Cj 20 Mar 2008
Gunz & World of Warcraft
My 13 yr old son is showing signs of addiction with gaming already with these online games. He will play for hours at a time and show indications of the 4 signs when told to get off or told he can't play. We are concerned about this and have known that this is becoming a problem. We are restricitng & limiting use but have to deal with the side effects. My concern is that this will open the door to other addictive behavior in the future,
Posted by: Philip Geertsma 20 Mar 2008
South Koreans most at risk
Im nearly 2000 miles away from korea, so i should be ok?
Posted by: Mike 19 Mar 2008