Current Problems of Psychiatry

REVIEW PAPER

¹ Koło Naukowe Studentów Anglojęzycznych przy Katedrze i Klinice Psychiatrii, Uniwersytetu Medycznego w Lublinie

² Katedra i Klinika Psychiatrii UM w Lublinie

“Internet addiction” (IAD) was formally introduced in the late 1990’s, and while it has not been extensively researched compared to other pathologies, it is significant enough to be considered for inclusion into the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). [1,2]. Although many methods evaluating internet usage have been developed, a gold standard IAD test has not been recognized, and knowledge is therefore limited regarding the consequences of pathological internet use on a person’s well-being [3]. This article attempts to highlight a sample of the general IAD literature with regards to its shortcomings and its findings regarding sample population demographics, lifestyle, and predictive values.