Analysis of Internet Addiction: A Comparative Article Review

This report provides a detailed review of two articles concerning internet addiction. The first article, "Internet Addiction: Definition, Assessment, Epidemiology and Clinical Management," explores the definition, prevalence, and clinical management of internet addiction, highlighting varying prevalence estimates and associated psychiatric co-morbidities. The second article, "Internet Addiction or Excessive Internet Use," focuses on the diagnostic challenges and factors contributing to problematic internet use, reviewing literature on diagnosis, epidemiology, and potential treatments. Both articles emphasize the need for further research and the complex nature of internet addiction, touching upon the lack of evidence-based treatments and the need for comprehensive approaches to address this growing concern. The report summarizes the research approaches, participant selection, main results, and conclusions of each article, offering a comparative analysis of the findings.

Running head: INTERNET ADDICTION – ARTICLE REVIEW
INTERNET ADDICTION – ARTICLE REVIEW
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Table of Contents
Article 1...............................................................................................................................2
Section 1..........................................................................................................................2
Section 2..........................................................................................................................2
Section 3..........................................................................................................................3
Section 4..........................................................................................................................4
Article 2...............................................................................................................................6
Section 1..........................................................................................................................6
Section 2..........................................................................................................................6
Section 3..........................................................................................................................7
Section 4..........................................................................................................................9
References..........................................................................................................................10

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Article 1
Section 1
Source: HCT Libraries page>Discover>Electronic Resources
Search Items: Addiction to the internet and its effects
Section 2
Title:
Internet Addiction: Definition, Assessment, Epidemiology and Clinical Management
Abstract:
Internet addiction is characterized by excessive or poorly controlled preoccupations,
urges or behaviors regarding computer use and internet access that lead to impairment or
distress. The condition has attracted increasing attention in the popular media and among
researchers, and this attention has paralleled the growth in computer (and Internet) access.
Prevalence estimates vary widely, although a recent random telephone survey of the
general US population reported an estimate of 0.3–0.7%.
The disorder occurs worldwide, but mainly in countries where computer access and
technology are widespread. Clinical samples and a majority of relevant surveys report a male
preponderance. Onset is reported to occur in the late 20s or early 30s age group, and there is
often a lag of a decade or more from initial to problematic computer usage.
Internet addiction has been associated with dimensionally measured depression and
indicators of social isolation. Psychiatric co-morbidity is common, particularly mood, anxiety,

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impulse control and substance use disorders. Aetiology is unknown, but probably involves
psychological, neurobiological and cultural factors.
There are no evidence-based treatments for internet addiction. Cognitive behavioral
approaches may be helpful. There is no proven role for psychotropic medication. Marital and
family therapy may help in selected cases, and online self-help books and tapes are available.
Lastly, a self-imposed ban on computer use and Internet access may be necessary in some cases.
APA Reference:
Shaw, M., & Black, D. W. (2008). Internet addiction. CNS drugs, 22(5), 353-365.
Section 3
Population
The population of the concerned research was limited to the respondents of almost 9
community surveys and 4 online surveys that were useful in the composition of the article. The
studies in consideration were majorly focused on the issues that were faced by the younger
people of the society. The study is majorly dependent on the results that were obtained by the
earlier researchers on the same given topic of internet addiction.
Research Approach
The research approaches that were undertaken by the authors of the article represented
the qualitative approach towards the completion of the study. The research was completed with
the help of the various issues that were considered by the earlier researchers on the given topic of
internet addiction among the youth. The article considered the discussion on the issues that were

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presented by the earlier authors and considered a discussion on the results that were presented by
the authors in their individual studies.
Participant selection
The studies revolved around the responses that were collected by the other scholars who
have been involved in the studies on the addiction of the younger generation towards the internet.
The study focusses majorly on the earlier literature that was present in the given matter and aims
to discuss the various nuances that were present within the earlier researches on the internet
addiction. The data for the given research was collected from the those that existed in the given
field.
Main Results
The major findings of the article suggest that the internet addiction reasons can be
different for the people on the basis of their genders. As opined by the other researchers, the
people belonging to the male genders tend to be affected by the addiction towards the internet on
a deeper level than their female counterparts. The problematic use of the internet especially in
matters like gambling and addiction towards the pornographic material that can be accessed over
the internet is found to have affected the male members more than their female counterparts.
Section 4
The article majorly sheds light on the matters that are relevant to the addiction of the
people to the problematic usages of the internet. The article majorly focusses on the review of
the existing literature on the matters that are related to the improper and unwanted use of the
internet. The article attempts a discussion on the reasons as well as the improper usage of the
internet. The concerned article aims to identify as well as discuss the various aftereffect of the

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issues that relate to the misuse of the internet. The article aims at the implementation of a
definition of the internet addiction and the various factors that lead up to the issue. The article
suggests that further research and insight is required in order to discuss the factors that are
required in order to deal with the discussion on the addiction to the internet and the other
problematic uses of the facility that has been a commonplace occurrence in the modern world.
The information shared within the given article is known to have helped the professionals in the
field to diagnose as well as treat the damages that have been taking place within the psyche of
the individual due to the misuses of the internet.

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Article 2
Section 1
Source: HCT Libraries page>Discover>Electronic Resources
Search Items: Addiction to the internet
Section 2
Title:
Internet Addiction or Excessive Internet Use
Abstract:
Problematic Internet addiction or excessive Internet use is characterized by excessive or
poorly controlled preoccupations, urges, or behaviors regarding computer use and Internet access
that lead to impairment or distress. Currently, there is no recognition of internet addiction within
the spectrum of addictive disorders and, therefore, no corresponding diagnosis. It has, however,
been proposed for inclusion in the next version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of
Mental Disorder (DSM).
Objective: To review the literature on Internet addiction over the topics of diagnosis,
phenomenology, epidemiology, and treatment.
Methods: Review of published literature between 2000–2009 in Medline and PubMed
using the term “internet addiction. Results: Surveys in the United States and Europe have
indicated prevalence rate between 1.5% and 8.2%, although the diagnostic criteria and
assessment questionnaires used for diagnosis vary between countries. Crosssectional studies on
samples of patients report high comorbidity of Internet addiction with psychiatric disorders,

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especially affective disorders (including depression), anxiety disorders (generalized anxiety
disorder, social anxiety disorder), and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Several
factors are predictive of problematic Internet use, including personality traits, parenting and
familial factors, alcohol use, and social anxiety.
Conclusions and Scientific Significance: Although Internet-addicted individuals have
difficulty suppressing their excessive online behaviors in real life, little is known about the
patho-physiological and cognitive mechanisms responsible for Internet addiction. Due to the lack
of methodologically adequate research, it is currently impossible to recommend any evidence-
based treatment of Internet addiction.
APA Reference:
Weinstein, A., & Lejoyeux, M. (2010). Internet addiction or excessive internet use. The
American journal of drug and alcohol abuse, 36(5), 277-283.
Section 3
Population:
The article in discussion is known to have been a review of the existing literature on the
matters that are related to the bad effects of the addiction of the internet on the youth as well as
the various other members of the society. Since the article in discussion is a literature review,
thus no such population can be identified within the discussed article.
Research approach:
The research approach that is undertaken within the article is a qualitative approach. The
article in discussion is observed to have been focusing majorly on the review of the existing

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literature on the addiction as is experienced as well as reported by the people. The concerned
article aims to discuss the factors that lead to the addiction towards the internet. The given article
further discusses the consequences that might result from the addiction towards the internet and
the impact of the consequences on the given people who are affected by the addiction towards
the internet. The article in discussion also attempts a discussion on the factors that are dedicated
towards the identification and the ways of treating the people who have been addicted to the
internet in a manner that has been hampering their daily lives as well as their health.
Participant selection:
The article in discussion being a literature review does not select the participants for the
collection of the primary data that might be required for the completion of the concerned article.
Main results:
The main results of the study suggest that there are various reasons behind the
development of the addiction towards the internet. The concerned article in discussion tends to
discuss the various factors of cognition that are related to the problematic usage of the internet.
The concerned article states that the addiction towards the usage of the internet seems hard to
treat due to the fact that the research that is adequate on a methodological level. The concerned
article also discusses the fact that the addiction towards the internet has not been overtly
mentioned within the medical literature that exists. The article also comments that the addiction
to the internet might not be an addiction in itself, however it might be a symptom of an addiction
of some other sort or might even act as a coping mechanism.

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Section 4
The article in discussion aims to deal with the issues that deal with the addiction towards
the problematic use of the internet and the ways in which the issues rising thereafter might be
affected. The article in discussion further deals with the issues that arise out of the addiction of
the people towards the internet and are known to have been majorly lacking in the co-operative
mechanisms due to the lack of insight into the several pathophysiological mechanisms that have
been the underlying causes of the addiction of the people of all ages towards the internet. The
article has inspired the professionals to discuss the need of the various interventions that might
be necessary for the detection of the problematic internet addiction. The article also helps to set
clear the path for the researches on the ways to incorporate the ways to deal with the addiction.

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References
Shaw, M., & Black, D. W. (2008). Internet addiction. CNS drugs, 22(5), 353-365.
Weinstein, A., & Lejoyeux, M. (2010). Internet addiction or excessive internet use. The
American journal of drug and alcohol abuse, 36(5), 277-283.