K W Müller1, M E Beutel1, K Wölfling2. 1. Outpatient Clinic for Behavioural Addictions, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy of the University Medical Centre of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Untere Zahlbacher Straße 8, 55131 Mainz, Germany. 2. Outpatient Clinic for Behavioural Addictions, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy of the University Medical Centre of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Untere Zahlbacher Straße 8, 55131 Mainz, Germany. Electronic address: muellka@uni-mainz.de.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Internet addiction becomes a growing health problem worldwide with prevalence rates up to 3%. Still, uncertainties exist regarding its diagnostics and clinical characterization. Especially the lacking clinical evidence regarding self-report measures assessing Internet addiction has been criticized. METHODS: This study aimed to characterize 290 German treatment seekers and to determine the diagnostic accuracy of a self-report scale for Internet addiction. Patients filled in self-report measures (SCL-90R, PHQ, AICA-S - Scale for the Assessment of Internet and Computer game Addiction) and underwent diagnostic interviews to assess symptoms of Internet addiction and level of functioning. RESULTS: Of the predominantly male treatment seekers 71% met the clinical diagnosis of Internet addiction. These displayed higher levels of psychopathology, especially depressive and dissociative symptoms. Half of the patients met criteria for one further psychiatric disorder according to clinical interviews, especially depressive disorders. Their level of functioning was decreased in all domains. AICA-S showed good psychometric properties and satisfying diagnostic accuracy (sensitivity: 80.5%; specificity: 82.4%). DISCUSSION: In this sample, Internet addiction was associated with high levels of psychosocial distress that is mainly related to depressive symptoms. Co-morbid disorders were common among those patients. First analyses on diagnostic accuracy of AICA-S (using the therapist's rating on Internet addiction as an independent external criterion) showed promising results.
OBJECTIVE: Internet addiction becomes a growing health problem worldwide with prevalence rates up to 3%. Still, uncertainties exist regarding its diagnostics and clinical characterization. Especially the lacking clinical evidence regarding self-report measures assessing Internet addiction has been criticized. METHODS: This study aimed to characterize 290 German treatment seekers and to determine the diagnostic accuracy of a self-report scale for Internet addiction. Patients filled in self-report measures (SCL-90R, PHQ, AICA-S - Scale for the Assessment of Internet and Computer game Addiction) and underwent diagnostic interviews to assess symptoms of Internet addiction and level of functioning. RESULTS: Of the predominantly male treatment seekers 71% met the clinical diagnosis of Internet addiction. These displayed higher levels of psychopathology, especially depressive and dissociative symptoms. Half of the patients met criteria for one further psychiatric disorder according to clinical interviews, especially depressive disorders. Their level of functioning was decreased in all domains. AICA-S showed good psychometric properties and satisfying diagnostic accuracy (sensitivity: 80.5%; specificity: 82.4%). DISCUSSION: In this sample, Internet addiction was associated with high levels of psychosocial distress that is mainly related to depressive symptoms. Co-morbid disorders were common among those patients. First analyses on diagnostic accuracy of AICA-S (using the therapist's rating on Internet addiction as an independent external criterion) showed promising results.
Authors: K W Müller; M Janikian; M Dreier; K Wölfling; M E Beutel; C Tzavara; C Richardson; A Tsitsika Journal: Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry Date: 2014-09-05 Impact factor: 4.785
Authors: Klaus Wölfling; Kai W Müller; Michael Dreier; Christian Ruckes; Oliver Deuster; Anil Batra; Karl Mann; Michael Musalek; Andreas Schuster; Tagrid Lemenager; Sara Hanke; Manfred E Beutel Journal: JAMA Psychiatry Date: 2019-10-01 Impact factor: 21.596
Authors: Iris Reiner; Ana N Tibubos; Jochen Hardt; Kai Müller; Klaus Wölfling; Manfred E Beutel Journal: Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry Date: 2017-04-04 Impact factor: 4.785
Authors: Mark D Griffiths; Antonius J van Rooij; Daniel Kardefelt-Winther; Vladan Starcevic; Orsolya Király; Ståle Pallesen; Kai Müller; Michael Dreier; Michelle Carras; Nicole Prause; Daniel L King; Elias Aboujaoude; Daria J Kuss; Halley M Pontes; Olatz Lopez Fernandez; Katalin Nagygyorgy; Sophia Achab; Joël Billieux; Thorsten Quandt; Xavier Carbonell; Christopher J Ferguson; Rani A Hoff; Jeffrey Derevensky; Maria C Haagsma; Paul Delfabbro; Mark Coulson; Zaheer Hussain; Zsolt Demetrovics Journal: Addiction Date: 2016-01 Impact factor: 6.526