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Interview: Ensnared in the Net

By CHRISTINE DELL'AMORE, UPI Consumer Health Correspondent

WASHINGTON, May 11 (UPI) -- Today's perpetually wired generation is becoming increasingly trapped in an addiction to the World Wide Web, an obsession that can degrade relationships and destroys lives.

In 2003, 70 million American households had one or more computers with Internet access, up 54 percent since 1984, according to Census data. Diane M. Wieland, a Philadelphia-area psychotherapist and author of a recent study in Perspectives in Psychiatric Care, talked to United Press International about the dangers of Internet addiction.

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Q. Why did you decide to do a study on this issue?

A. One day a year and a half ago, a woman came into my office whose husband was heavily using the computer and was secretive about its use. He had a history of substance abuse. She did an investigation and found out he had a long-distance relationship with someone he met in a chat room. Their marriage was deteriorating; she tried to get him off the computer, but he neglected chores and eventually lost his job because he got so angry and violent. So I said I would look into more.

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I found that beyond the relational cyber addiction, there were other kinds of things going on: Online gambling, stock trading, information overload, surfing the Net constantly, doing data searches constantly. Some children get addicted to computer games -- even adults do it with playing solitaire.

Q. Is this becoming a new mental disorder?

A. It's called Internet addiction, but there is not a classified diagnosis regarding this. Some also call it pathologic Internet use (or PIU). The characteristics are still typical of substance abuse or pathological gambling; it's really the same behavior. What you're going to see is people on the shy side who don't have a whole lot of social skills, who begin to use the computer more and more and become more solitary.

Q. Is there a typical person who falls victim to this? You wrote people with a history of depression can be more at risk.

A. There's a tendency to have these obsessive-compulsive tendencies along with alcohol and substance abuse; they're called comordibities. Depression in particular puts these people more at risk. They basically have a lack of control since they're so heavily and overly involved with computer activity. They are doing what people do when they're addicted. They ignore other aspects important to their lives -- family, marriages, work. This results in social isolation, family fights -- the woman I talked about divorced (her husband) -- academic failure, job loss and debt.

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Q. What are some of the signs?

A. A general disregard for one's health, not taking care of one's hygiene, eating sporadically, craving more time on the computer, neglecting family and friends and lying or trying to minimize how much time they're on the computer.

Q. What are the health effects?

A. Carpal tunnel syndrome, migraines, backaches. A lot of people who use computers in everyday life who don't have computer addiction also get this: for example, secretaries can have severe problems with repetitive use injuries. They get carpal tunnel (syndrome in their wrists), poor posture and backaches from being in chair for a long period of time, sleep deprivation and not enough exercise.

Q. Is this getting worse?

A. The expectation now is you have to be "on" 24-7. The overstimulation in using the computer can just be overbearing. It could start to be seen as more of a stressor for people who are working. For some, it's not that they choose to be on the computer, but they're pressured to be on. It's going to be interesting to see where this will lead.

Q. Is there treatment?

A. Medications for obsessive-compulsive disorder such as Zoloft, or antidepressants like Paxil or Prozac. Cognitive behavioral therapy can also help enlighten the person about what is going on and help them to change their behavior. But denial is very strong. There are really interesting phrases people use to minimize or give excuses for Internet use. For instance: "It's not really extramarital sex, it's just words on the computer," "My grades are poor because classes are boring," "Getting hooked on the Net is not as bad as drinking or doing drugs."

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Q. What can family members or friends do?

A. Like any addiction, they should feel strongly enough to confront the person, even if the person's level of denial is high. Go get help. Use the assessment inventory (an addiction self-test similar to the one listed below) to actually show them and say, "When I look at your behavior, I see there is a problem." The real issue is their inability to control how much time they're spending online, and the ripple effect that has on everyone else.

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To find out if you or someone you know is addicted, take an assessment test at:

http://www.netaddiction.com/resources/internet_addiction_test.htm

For more information:

http://store.netaddiction.com/index.aspx?tabindex=0&tabid=1&productid=1&directoryid=+8&ctrl=productdetails

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