Is the Internet a pathological communication tool or not? Where the weakest are the most vulnerable

Wirion, M. Zdanowicz, Nicolas [UCL] Pull, Ch. Hildgen, M.

Since the beginning of the massive success of the Internet, the scientific community has different opinions about its effects. These effects are described sometimes as positive and sometimes as negative. With the help of a bibliographical research and of our clinical experience, we tried to assess both hypotheses. The use of the Internet seems to be paradoxal: positive for the socially well integrated people, negative for the isolated people and for those suffering from psychological problems. The pathological use of the Internet rather seems to be a problem associated with a psychiatric disorder than a disorder by itself. © 2004 Elsevier SAS. Tous droits réservé s.