Addiction, Dependence, or Abuse

Reconsidering the Psychology of Educational Technology: Addiction, Dependence or Abuse?

Thinking about and discussing cyber-piracy helped us define and understand the boundaries of intellectual property and copyright as they apply to technological innovation. In a similar way considering the possibility of addiction to technology, may help us better understand the nature of the relationships humans have with it.

What is addiction?

As defined by Psychology Today:

“Addiction is a condition that results when a person ingests a substance (alcohol, cocaine, nicotine) or engages in an activity (gambling) that can be pleasurable but the continued use of which becomes compulsive and interferes with ordinary life responsibilities, such as work or relationships, even health. Users may not be aware that their behavior is out of control and causing problems for themselves and others.”

Is It Addiction, Dependence or Abuse?

Dr. David Greenfield provides a comprehensive introduction to the topic of technology addiction in the video: Internet and Technology Addiction Interview of Dr. David Greenfield. Dr. Greenfield is founder of The Center for Internet and Technology Addiction and Director of the Healing Center, LLC.

Notes from the video:

• Greenfield’s definition of Internet and Technology Addiction is congruent with the definition of addiction offered by Psychology Today.
• The diagnosis of internet addiction requires internet overuse, which could be labeled internet abuse, to become so extreme that it negatively impacts the activities of ordinary living.
• Some researchers and clinicians suggest there is a neurological and biochemical basis for internet addiction.
• Gaming and internet addiction is associated with higher rates of ADHD.
• Addictions are psychologic and neurologic.
• While most mental health professionals agree there is a problem, the description, diagnosis, and treatment of the condition is inconsistent.

Writing for Psychiatry: Should DSM-V Designate “Internet Addiction” a Mental Disorder?,

Dr. Ronald Pies provides a balanced view of the controversy surrounding the diagnosis of internet addiction (IA). In this article, Pies:

• acknowledges that some psychiatrists have reported that internet addiction and substance use disorders share some common features: excessive use, withdrawal phenomena, tolerance and negative repercussions
• notes that the term addiction does not appear in the DSM-IV. Instead, the terms substance dependence and substance abuse are used
• observes that, notwithstanding behaviour-based reports of tolerance and withdrawal, the physiologic presence of withdrawal phenomena and tolerance have not been established in (IA) individuals
• raises the issue of psychiatric comorbidity and observed that some IA individual also exhibit a co-existing or underlying psychiatric disorder
• argues that intrinsic suffering is not part of IA

Pies concludes that, pending further investigation, IA should not be considered a discrete disorder or disease. He offers the term pathological use of electronic media (PUEM) as an alternative. Like David Greenfield, Dr. Pies acknowledges that “some individuals exhibiting severe overuse of the internet are in danger of serious emotional and physical complications” and calls for action to further understand and treat this condition.

Need more information?

Wikipedia provides a good review of the debate in Internet Addiction Disorder.

Summary

With the controversy still raging and despite the headline grabbing announcement by Forbes magazine in October 2012, we wait for the American Psychiatric Association (APA) to determine the validity of internet or technology addiction. And we have some time to wait. The APA has announced that publication of the DSM-5 will be delayed until at least the spring of 2013.

While you wait, you may be wondering about your relationship with the internet and technology? Try taking the Internet Addiction Test (IAT) developed by Dr. Kimberly Young of The Center for Internet Addiction.

Discussion Questions:

1. How could a diagnosis of internet addiction, sanctioned by the American Psychiatric Association, impact the field of Educational Technology? What difference would using the term pathological use of electronic media make?

2. What should users and advocates of technology learn from the information on internet and technology addiction?

3. How does the information on addiction compliment and extend the work on neuroplasticity, psychoanalysis, and choice theory?

References

What is addition? Psychology Today. Retrieved October 11, 2012, from http://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/addiction

Greenfield, D (2012, August 7). Internet and technology addiction interview of Dr. David Greenfield (Video File). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xB4O4bYPVbI

Pies, R. (2009, February) Should DSM-V designate “internet addiction” a mental disorder? Psychiatry (Edgmont), 6(2): pp. 31–37. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2719452/

Internet addiction disorder. In Wikipedia. Retrieved October 11, 2012, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Addiction_Disorder

Walton, A.G. (2012) Internet addiction is the new mental health disorder. Forbes Magazine. Retrieved October 11, 2012 from http://www.forbes.com/sites/alicegwalton/2012/10/02/the-new-mental-health-disorder-internet-addiction/

Schatzberg, A.F. (2010) Why is DSM-5 being delayed? Psychiatric News, 45(1): p. 3.

Young, K. (2012) Internet addition test. Retrieved October 11, 2012 from http://www.netaddiction.com/index.php?option=com_bfquiz&view=onepage&catid=46&Itemid=106

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