In an attempt to draw attention to how individuals’ interaction with new technologies
result in behavioral changes, King et al. (2013) reported a single-case study of a person with
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social phobia who showed the symptoms of nomophobia. They examined nomophobia as a
manifest behavior that might be an indicator of a potential anxiety disorder. The patient, who
was diagnosed with social phobia disorder (SPD), was reported to have developed a dependency
on virtual environments to communicate with his contacts and thus to avoid direct social
interactions with people. After receiving the treatment, which was a combination of medication
and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), the patient was reported to reduce his dependence on
virtual environments for communication and show an improvement in engaging in real-life
situations. While the authors acknowledge the impact of nomophobia on individuals, they assert
that nomophobia might also be a mask for other problematic behaviors and even mental
disorders.