condition name:
internet addiction
condition information:
Continuing advances in technology now mean that more people than ever before are able to use the Internet extensively for both work and social purposes. In fact, according to The Office for National Statistics (ONS), 90% of adults in the UK were recent Internet users in the UK.
Whilst, in many ways, it is a positive step that we can now talk, search, shop, play, find love and experience all of the other far-reaching benefits of the Internet, as with everything in life, there are some drawbacks. Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD) is the term used to describe excessive Internet use, which begins to interfere with daily life.
Medical opinion is divided on whether Internet addiction exists as a mental illness in its own right or whether it's an expression of pre-existing mental health issues or behavioural problems. For example, a person who compulsively looks for gambling sites online may have a gambling problem rather than an Internet addiction.
