Internet Addiction: The New Disorder in the Future Version of DSM

Internet addiction known as a behavioral dependence and the inability to control impulses associated with the use of the Internet, although in 1996, and perhaps earlier, was described, until the publication of the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of mental disorders in 2013, wasn’t a disorder with formal diagnostic criteria. Putting the internet addiction in third section of DSM 5 -however, as internet gaming disorder that refers only to one of the Internet-related addictive behaviors- represents the uncertainty of calling extreme and problematic use of the Internet as addictive disorder. According to this point, the main aim of this research with descriptive-review method, was to collect the results of current valid studies on internet addiction and investigation of possibility and necessity of place this disorder in addiction and substance use disorders division of future version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. According to the findings of research about internet addiction disorder similarity to physical and psychological dependence on drugs and other addictive behaviors and relationship with other psychological disorders, maladaptive personality characteristics and environmental events stressors, it seems that this disorder in addictive disorders EDI or new version of DSM, will be recognized. It seems that this disorder as “Internet addiction” -not internet gaming disorder- will be relocated in the addictive disorders part of new edition or version of DSM.