Technological Addictions

Technological Addictions is a wakeup call alerting the medical community-and
society at large-to the addictive potential of technology and to technological
addictions as legitimate psychiatric conditions worthy of medical assessment,
diagnosis, and treatment. No other book tackles these addictions, individually
and collectively, contextualizing them for both mental health professionals and
the interested public. Petros Levounis, an authority on addiction who's been an
early voice on the intersection of addiction and technology, and James Sherer
are uniquely well-suited to the task, and they have recruited an impressive list
of contributors who write thoughtfully, eloquently, and authoritatively on their
respective topics. The 10 chapters address the different kinds of technological
addiction, as well as how they manifest and impact particular populations. Core
to this discussion is the fine line between addictive and nonpathological use.
After all, technology makes modern life possible, so assessing whether patients
have crossed that line is not an easy task.

Other noteworthy topics In
2019, "gaming disorder" was added to the ICD-11, a controversial move raised a
difficult question: are video games addictive and harmful, or are they just
another pastime? The book helps clinicians understand video games as a cultural
phenomenon, analyzing both their social importance and with their addictive
potential. Cybersex and online pornography can hijack our dopaminergic reward
pathways like any other addictive substance, destroying relationships, bank
accounts, and mental health. The book provides a brief history followed by a
discussion of diagnostic criteria, screening tools, associations, and
treatments. Although seemingly harmless, even social media can become
addictive, as people create online personae that may confuse and undermine both
their sense of self and their sense of connectedness to the world, leading to
anxiety, depression, impulsivity, and ADHD. The book helps readers distinguish
between healthy and pathological social media use and explores treatment options
for the latter. Technology is an integral factor in what has become known as
"information overload," which is associated with decreased performance and job
satisfaction, work-related stress, social isolation, impaired sleep,
relationship issues, and other problems. The book examines the underlying
psychology of internet addiction and problematic internet use, their
comorbidities, psychopathological models, and treatments. Significantly older
when first introduced to the internet, older adults may face unique challenges
and vulnerabilities, and this evolving understanding of the role of technology
in their lives, both in terms of positive changes and the risk for pathological
patterns of use and other potential harms, is explored in-depth.

Although
written primarily for psychiatrists and other mental health professionals,
patients, parents, teachers, students, administrators, and anyone who is
interested in how humans interact with technology will find Technological
Addictions fascinating and thought provoking.