Internet Addiction documentary shows Chinese boot-camp-style treatment

China's Web Junkies - Internet Addiction Documentary by the NYTimes about a Chinese boot-camp-style treatment center for young men "addicted" to the Internet. Read the story here: http://nyti.ms/1moCt4hCompulsive Internet use has been categorized as a mental health issue in many countries, including the United States, but China was among the first to label “Internet addiction” a clinical disorder. This video shows the inner workings of a rehabilitation center where Chinese teenagers are “deprogrammed.”There are now hundreds of treatment programs throughout China and South Korea. The first inpatient Internet addiction program in the United States recently opened in Pennsylvania. Here is the link to the CNN story about the program.Is Internet addiction real?According to The New York Times, Internet addiction affects 10 percent of the web users in the U.S. The so-called "Onlineaholics" spend endless hours surfing the web to the point that their Internet activity disturbs their daily life.  A growing number of therapists are treating web addicts with the 12-step programs, used to treat chemical addictions. The condition is not officially recognized as a psychiatric disorder and insurance companies do not pay for treatment.  The University of Massachusetts, Lowell has more information on the Internet addiction disorder: Take an Internet Addiction Survey OnlineOnline social networking may 'harm health' due to reduction of face-to-face contact Aric Sigman pu...
Source: Clinical Cases and Images - Category: Journals (General) Tags: Internet NYTimes Psychiatry Psychology Source Type: news