Google Glass User Diagnosed with Internet Addiction Disorder

A recent study examined a thirty-one-year-old Navy serviceman who checked into the Navy’s Substance Abuse and Recovery Program (SARP) for alcoholism treatment, only to be diagnosed with internet addiction disorder.

The serviceman “exhibited significant frustration and irritability related to not being able to use his Google Glass” during the extent of his treatment at SARP, where electronics are not allowed (Kim, 2014). The patient stated that withdrawing from Google Glass was much harder than withdrawing from the alcoholism that brought him into treatment.

During the beginning of his treatment, the patient exhibited “involuntary movements to the temple area and short-term memory problems,” as well as dreams that seemed viewed as if through the device window (Kim, 2014). Upon completing residential treatment, the patient noted improvements in his short-term memory, a reduction of irritability and involuntary movements to the temple, and increased clarity of thought.

While internet addiction disorder is not a formally recognized clinical diagnosis in the DSM-5, Dr. Andrew Doan, head of addictions and resilience research at SARP and one of authors of the study, attests to its reality and its presence in the patient.

References

Kim, V. (2014). Google Glass user becomes first diagnosed for internet addiction disorder. Retrieved from http://www.thefix.com/content/google-glass-user-first-reported-patient-internet-addiction-disorder

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