Prevalence and patterns of psychiatric disorders in referred adolescents with Internet addiction

Abstract

Aim:To investigate prevalence and patterns of psychiatric disorders in young subjects with Internet addiction (IA).Methods: Subjects were taken from a sample of patients, aged 10-18 years old, referred to Istanbul Medical Faculty, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department due to a variety of behavioral and emotional problems alongside problematic Internet use. Inclusion criteria included IQ Ն70 and score Ն80 on Young's Internet Addiction Scale (YIAS). Psychiatric comorbidity was assessed using the Turkish version of the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School Age Children-Present and Lifetime Version.Results: Subjects were 45 boys (75%) and 15 girls (25%) with an age range of 10-18 years old (mean age, 13.38 Ϯ 1.79 years). A total of 60% (n = 36) had been using Internet for Ն5 years. Mean hours/week spent on the Internet was 53.7 (range, 30-105 h) and the average YIAS score was 85. All subjects (100%) had at least one and 88.3% (n = 53) had at least two comorbid psychiatric disorders. The frequency of diagnostic groups were as follows: behavioral disorder, n = 52 (86.7%); anxiety disorder, n = 43 (71.7%); mood disorder, n = 23 (38.3%); elimination disorder, n = 16 (26.7%); tic disorder, n = 10 (16.7%); and substance use disorder, n = 4 (6.7%). The most common psychiatric disorders were attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (n = 53; 83.3%), social phobia (n = 21; 35.0%) and major depressive disorder (n = 18; 30.0%). Conclusion:High rates of psychiatric comorbidity, particularly behavioral, anxiety and mood disorders were found in young subjects with IA. Because the presence of psychiatric disorders may affect the management /prognosis of IA, assessment should include that for other psychiatric disorders.

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder is a Better Predictor for Problematic Internet use than Depression: Evidence from Germany

“…These results further draw the attention towards ADHD, as its association with PIU was stronger than the link between depression and PIU. These findings support the already existing literature [9,11] and add a sample from Germany, where the relationship between PIU and ADHD has only been investigated scarcely so far. Another relevant aspect as suggested by Ho et al [44] is the role of ADHD as predisposing factor of PIU, based on the onset of ADHD (at the age of 7 by clinical definition), that usually predates the incipience of PIU.…”

“…In addition, Gamez-Guadix [15] showed in a longitudinal study over the course of one year from Spain that the depressive symptomatic at point 1 predicted an increase in PIU (here the preference for online relationships) at point 2. However, most of the studies in this field of research have been conducted in Asia [9][10][11]16,17]. As PIU seems to be culture-specific, based on different prevalences in different countries, the examination of comorbidities of PIU in different cultural circles plays an important role for clinical diagnosis and treatment.…”

Facebook overuse and addiction among Turkish adolescents: are ADHD and ADHD-related problems risk factors?

“…Previous studies had shown that ADHD in children and adolescents is significantly associated with Internet addiction [32,[33][34][35][36][37][38]. Our results also showed that a new type of Internet overuse and addiction (FB overuse and FB addiction) are also higher among ADHD adolescents.…”

Internet addiction in university students and change through university life

“…Farklı psikiyatrik bozuklukların internet bağımlılığın altında yatan neden olduğu veya internet bağımlılığının başka bozukluklara yol açabildiği tam aydınlatılamadığı için bu kişi-lerin klinik olarak değerlendirilmesi önem taşı-maktadır. 13,24 Türkiye'de aynı grupta internet bağımlığının zaman içindeki değişimini inceleyen ilk çalış-madır; ancak bu çalışmanın iki önemli sınırlılığı vardır. Birincisi, araştırma bir üniversitede yapıl-dığı için, araştırma sonuçları ülkedeki tüm üni-versite öğrencilerine genellenemez.…”