A. Maladaptive preoccupation with internet use, as
indicated by at least one of the following.

1. Preoccupations with use of the internet that are
experienced as irresistible.
2. Excessive use of the internet for periods of time
longer than planned.

B. The use of the internet or the preoccupation with its
use causes clinically significant distress or impairment
in social, occupational, or other important
areas of functioning.

C. The excessive internet use does not occur exclusively
during periods of hypomania or mania and is not
better accounted for by other Axis I disorders.
school functions) use.

From 2003, “Problematic Internet use: Proposed classification and diagnostic critera,” Depression and Anxiety, 17:201-216 by
Nathan A. Shapira, M.D., Ph.D., Mary C. Lessig, B.S., Toby D. Goldsmith, M.D., Steven T. Szabo, Ph.D., Martin Lazoritz, M.D., Mark S. Gold, M.D., and Dan J. Stein, M.D., Ph.D.

Dr. John Grohol is the CEO and founder of Psych Central. He is an author, researcher and expert in mental health online, and has been writing about online behavior, mental health and psychology issues -- as well as the intersection of technology and human behavior -- since 1992. Dr. Grohol sits on the editorial board of the journal Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking and is a founding board member and treasurer of the Society for Participatory Medicine.

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    Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 21 Aug 2005
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