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Compulsive computer use is becoming more common, US researchers report.
And people who spend excessive amounts of time glued to computer
screens surfing the Web, talking in chat rooms and playing
games often show signs of personality disorders.
There is a growing number who have a problem with excessive
and problematic computer use. These people have a hard time
controlling their computer use and give the impression of
being 'addicted' to their computer, causing all types of problems
in their work, personal and social life.
Researchers believe the condition is widespread since they
had no trouble finding such people, and most of them had other
emotional problems -- identifiable mood or anxiety disorders,
substance abuse or personality disorders. In a study of 16
men and 5 women who spent an average of 27 hours a week of
their free time in front of a computer, Black and his colleagues
found that many compulsive computer users feel happy, excited
or powerful when using computers. Most admitted, however,
that their screen time had interfered with family, friends,
work or school.
About one third of compulsive users who had tried to cut
back at one time or another said that spending less time in
front of the computer made them feel anxious. The typical
subject of our study was a 32-year old man with a college
degree and an average income of about $27,000, who had been
compulsively using his computer for 3 years. According to
the results of several different types of psychological tests,
the compulsive computer users had a high rate of mental disorders,
especially mood and personality disorders, and drug and alcohol
problems. For example, 52% of the people in the study had
at least one personality disorder, the investigators found.
In contrast, just 12% of subjects in a community-wide survey
had at least one personality disorder. The impact of compulsive
computer use is not readily apparent, however, since many
of its consequences (e.g., social isolation, marital discord,
and financial problems) remain out of the public's view. More
work will help pin down its risk factors, psychiatric comorbidity,
family history, psychosocial consequences, and natural history.
Journal of Clinical Psychiatry 1999;60:839-844.
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