GENERAL COURSE DESCRIPTION The popularity of the Internet has created a stir in the mental health community as clinicians are seeing more and more cases of Internet addiction in their practices. Given the newness of the disorder, therapists often feel unfamiliar with how to treat the problem and in some cases do not understand how the Internet actually works. This innovative course helps therapists identify the issues related to diagnosis and treatment of this new clinical problem. Similar to compulsive gambling, Internet addiction has been defined as an impulse-control disorder. Using modified DSM criteria, this course provides therapists with a framework to diagnose Internet addiction and reviews the risk factors and consequences of this new disorder. This course also reviews implications for dual diagnosis of Internet addiction with depression and outlines the types of abuse such as to Internet pornography, online gaming, online affairs, and more. Finally, the course provides specialized recovery strategies and treatment outcome data with this emergent clinical population. The course consists of seven articles. The first article is a summary of the topic, providing a short synopsis of each of the other articles. The second utilizes the Internet Addiction Index to identify usage differences and demographic profiles between dependent and non-dependent online users. The third article describes several theories on why users become dependent or addicted to the Internet. This article explores how dependent online users use the Internet to seek out social support, sexual fulfillment, and create a virtual fantasy life that motivates and drives their addictive behavior. The fourth article examines how clinical depression is significantly associated with increased levels of personal Internet use. It suggests that risk factors such as low self-esteem, poor motivation, fear of rejection, and the need for approval associated with depressives contribute to the development of addictive Internet use and explores the need for accurate assessment in dual diagnosis. The fifth article reviews the consequences created by online abuse to marriages, families, and jobs, depending upon the unique situation of each client, and it provides therapists with specific recovery techniques on how to address and treat this new clinical phenomenon. The sixth article provides actual treatment outcome data using cognitive behavior therapy with Internet addicts. Addicts maintained symptom management upon six-month follow-up after termination and such outcome data will be useful in future treatment planning with evidenced-based protocols unique to this emergent client population. The final article is a compilation of resources for further study and information.