Recent studies in Canada, the United Kingdom, and China lend new credence to the argument that Internet Addiction Disorder is, in fact, a real malady. A study conducted by the Quebec Health Network has shown that hundreds of patients have sought professional help for Internet addiction over the past few years, while the results of a YouGov study in the United Kingdom have led to the use of the term "epidemic". The Chinese are affected as well, with a new study estimating that 40 million people under the age of 18 are addicted to the Internet in China.Toronto CityNews: Is Someone in Your Family An Internet Addict?PC Pro: U.K. Internet Addiction WorseningChina Journal: Youth and Internet in China

1. Proposed by Ivan Goldberg, M.D. in 1995
2. Originally written as a hoax
3. Derived from gambling addiction diagnostic criteria
4. Considered a "process" addiction
5. Similar to addictions to sex or shopping
6. Interactive games like MMORPGs seem to be the most addictive
7. Treatment based on underlying psych diagnosis, such as ADD or depression.

1. 44 percent of participants said they became "stressed and confused" if they couldn't access the Internet
2. 19 percent of participants said they spent more time online than with family
3. 34 percent of participants said they would choose the Internet over exercise for a month
4. Over 50 percent of participants said that no Internet was worse than other broken utilities, like gas and water
5. Over 25 percent of participants used the Internet for more than 4 hours a day
6. Just over 16 percent of participants said they would miss the Internet more than real-world friendsPC Pro: U.K. Internet Addiction Worsening

1. Preoccupation with internet
2. Steadily increased use
3. Inability to stop
4. Withdrawal symptoms
5. Lost sense of time
6. Risky behaviors
7. Lies to cover internet use
8. Using the Internet as an escape from reality