If you regularly fall into bed bleary-eyed after a night of online gaming, you may be suffering from a psychiatric disorder.

In the American Journal of Psychiatry (DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2007.07101556), psychiatrist Jerald Block of Portland, Oregon, argues that internet addiction should be included in the next version of DSM, the US handbook of recognised psychiatric conditions, which is currently being drawn up. The condition is characterised by excessive use of the internet, anger or depression if computer access is lost, poor achievement and social isolation.

In South Korea, where the average high-schooler spends over 20 hours a week gaming, the government is well aware of the problem and has trained 1000 counsellors to help the 200,000 children believed to be affected.
From issue 2649 of New Scientist magazine, 02 April 2008, page 23