Abstract
The emergence of the World Wide Web and its explosive growth has affected every part of the human condition, and psychotherapy is no exception. Each day millions are visiting websites devoted to any topic imaginable. Particularly popular are websites known for chatrooms and self-help groups. While these websites may provide support and opportunity for interaction, some people find themselves engaged in online behavior to an excessive degree. While some clinicians are specializing in the treatment of computer addiction and regard it as a disorder others view the discussion as nothing more than a current fad. Is a potentially new psychiatric diagnosis emerging, which is called by such various names as Internet Addiction, Pathological Internet Use, and Compulsive Internet Disorder? This paper will explore the various components of the debate. Both potentially harmful as well as positive aspects of computer use will be discussed as well as criteria that can be useful during the assessment of a client who presents with concerns about computer use. Several self-reports will be included along with a clinical case example drawn from the author's clinical practice. Treatment implications will be identified and resources for further information for both clients and treating clinicians will be discussed