On the Net
Internet addicts can get online help
CMAJ 2000;163:199
In 1995, psychologist Kimberly Young of the University of Pittsburgh coined the phrase Internet addiction (IA). Six years later, Young has opened the world's only "virtual clinic" to help people deal with their online problems.
Young, who bills herself as "the world's first cyberpsychologist," runs the Center for On-Line Addiction (www.netaddiction.com). It includes checklists of warning signs, tips on how to deal with problems and a self-administered assessment test. There is even a "cyberwidows" test aimed at spouses and tests to determine whether you are addicted to cybersex or online gambling.
"Impairment to real-life relationships appears to be the number-one problem caused by Internet addiction," says Young. "Internet addicts gradually spend less time with real people in their lives in exchange for solitary time in front of a computer."
Young's site says IA covers a variety of behaviours and impulse-control problems, including cybersex, cyber-relationships, online gambling and trading, excessive Web surfing and general addiction to computer games or programming.
Once identified as an online addict, people can surf over to Young's virtual clinic, where they can sign up for email, online "chat" or telephone counselling. Have your credit card handy. A patient history is taken — online, of course — and then service commences. The cost runs from US$15 for a single email response "session" to US$210 for 180 minutes worth of chat or telephone counselling. All major credit cards are accepted.
Although the online clinic does not offer any claims about its success rates, it does highlight the number of times Young's work has been featured in the mass media, in venues ranging from the New York Times and Wall Street Journal to the BBC and Good Morning America. — Michael OReilly, mike@oreilly.net
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