Today’s communication is greatly facilitated thanks to the spread of digital media which have allowed us to shorten the distances between us. Computers, tablets and smartphones are now an indispensable tool in everyday life. 80% of swiss children and adolescents have a personal smartphone. In the assessment of the risk of addiction it is important the time spent using digital equipment (hours per day) (Neuenschwander, 2014).
Although not yet ranked in the major diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (ICD-10 and DSM-5) internet addiction is an increasing reality in daily life.
Internet addiction is characterized by excessive, poorly controllable, worries associated with pulsed or recurrent behaviors related to the use of equipment with internet access. The discomfort, impulses and behaviors may lead to social, educational and/or employment problems. In 2008, in the United States of America, the prevalence of internet addiction was of 0.3-0.7% (Shaw & Black, 2008). Today the disease is further increasing and it is spreading worldwide. According to the latest statistics from 1 to 6% of people using internet in the world would show a non-functional behavior, dependence on digital media, not only through the use of search engines, but also with the practice of online games and with the access to social networks, first of all twitter and facebook (Neuenschwander, 2014).
The onset of internet addiction is generally between 20 and 30 years old people and generally results in an increased risk of social isolation and depressive symptoms. Among mental disorders associated with internet addiction it seems to be frequent affective disorders (or mood disorders), anxiety disorders, impulse and control disorders and other addictions like drug addiction.
To carefully evaluate the risk of onset of internet addiction you must consider psychological, cultural and neurobiological factors (Shaw & Black, 2008). In a meta-analysis of research works published on internet addiction in the period 1999-2012, produced in Korea and including 95 research works, psychosocial factors associated with internet addiction would seem relevant: personal variables (the need to escape from themselves, difficulty in recognizing in its role), emotion regulation variables, emotional variables (manifestations of rage and anger), temperament traits (obsessive and dependent), adaptation strategies (to negative events) (Koo & Kwon, 2014).
However playing sport and music represent protective activities for the manifestation of the disorder.
For the prevention of internet addiction a major role should be exercised by parents discouraging children spending many hours in front of digital devices (Neuenschwander, 2014).
To cure the disorder a cognitive-behavioral psychotherapeutic approach appears to be effective (Shaw & Black, 2008).
References:
Koo HJ & Kwon JH. Risk and protective factors of internet addiction: a meta-analysis of empirical studies in Korea (2014). Yonsei Med J. 55(6): 1691-711.
Shaw M & Black DW. Internet addiction: definition, assessment, epidemiology and clinical management (2008). CNS drugs. 22(5): 353-65.
Neuenschwander M. Online addictive disease (2014).Ther Umsch 71(10): 599-607.
Dr. Tiziana Corteccioni
MD, Specialist in Psychiatry, Psychotherapist.
Psychiatrist and Psychotherapist, Cognitive behavioral therapist.
Since October 2010 she has been collaborating with Centro Ricerche Musicali (Centre of Musical Research) in Rome in a project named “Emotions Music” aimed to people with emotional difficulties. She’s coauthor of scientific publications.
Since November 2013 she has been collaborating with the Associazione di Clinica Cognitiva (Clinical Cognitive Association) in Lazio.
She pursues activities as psychiatrist and psychotherapist at several clinical centres in Rome and Perugia in which cures, through prescriptions and psychotherapy sessions, sleep disturbances, depression, bipolar disorder, panic attacks, phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder, eating disorders, personality disorders, addictions and schizophrenia.