For Information Contact:
Eve Herold, 703-907-8640
press@psych.org
Erin Connors, 703-907-8562
econnors@psych.org
Embargoed Until:
May 3, 2014
Release No. 14-23
New Research Press Briefing: Internet Addiction: Review of Neuroimaging Studies
New York, NY (May 3, 2014) – In the United States, 93% of adolescents and adults between the ages of 12
and 29 years of age utilize the internet. The concept of Internet addiction as a disorder was initially proposed
by Ivan Goldberg, in 1995, and while it was not included in the fifth edition of Diagnostic and Statistical
Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), the issue has been under heated debate for several years. New
research by Sree Latha Krishna Jadapalle, MD, seeks to explore the effects of Internet overuse on brain
structure and function through the review of journal articles pertaining to various neuroimaging studies.
One of the major difficulties in studying the research surrounding the condition is the lack of a cohesive
conceptualization. The description of a proposed Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD), also called problematic or
pathological Internet use, is based on the criteria for substance dependence or pathological gambling. IAD is
characterized by an individual’s lack of control over his or her use of the Internet, resulting in marked distress,
preoccupation, mood changes, tolerance, withdrawal, and functional impairments of social, occupational, and
academic performance.
While IAD is not established as a mental disorder, the estimated prevalence of Internet overuse among US
adolescents is as high as 26.3% and, despite increasing prevalence of suspected Internet addiction, the basic
epidemiology and the pathophysiology of the disorder remain unclear. Dr. Jadapalle’s work seeks to analyze
the few neuroimaging studies that have been performed to investigate the structural and functional changes
in the brain affecting the emotional processing, executive attention, decision making, and cognitive control
among heavy Internet users.
Dr. Jadapalle is a graduate of Kurnool Medical College in India, and is currently a second year psychiatry
resident at MoreHouse School Of Medicine, Atlanta, GA. Dr. Jadapalle has published in eight peer-reviewed
journal publications and presented 15 posters at various national psychiatric conferences. Her research
Interests include Autism Spectrum Disorders and Addiction in Adolescents, and she plans to specialize in Child
and Adolescent Psychiatry.
Dr. Jadapalle will present her research at the 2014 APA New Research Press Briefing on May 4th from 11:00
a.m. till noon EDT time at the Javits Convention Center room 2D10. The briefing will also be steamed live via
interactive webinar at https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/798683514.
Dr. Jadapalle’s research poster will be presented on Tuesday, May 6th from 10:00am-11:30am in the Javits
exhibit hall at the APA Annual Meeting in New York.
Follow @APAPsychiatric and #APAAM14 to find out the latest Annual Meeting news.
“Like” American Psychiatric Association on Facebook to receive Annual Meeting updates.
The American Psychiatric Association is a national medical specialty society whose 35,000 physician members
specialize in the diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and research of mental illnesses, including substance use
disorders. Visit the APA at www.psychiatry.org.
###