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.