Internet addiction is an emerging global problem with inconsistent nomenclature, diagnostic criteria, and assessment tools. This review explores the complex and conflicting reports of Internet addiction in the literature in an effort to pinpoint the status of this phenomenon. We cite literature related to process additions in order to provide a framework for Internet addiction's potential place amongst diagnosable disorders in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5). Clinical implications of working with people with Internet addiction are emphasized, as is the need for future research.

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