Nomophobia: Clinical and Demographic Profile of Social Network Excessive Users

Abstract

Inroduction: The new technologies-computer, internet, cell phone (CIC)-and the daily interactivity of the individuals, have produced significant changes in the clinical, cognitive-behavioral, social, professional and environmental aspects which need to be analyzed constantly. The nomophobia [1] has to do with the dependence on technology. Are the symptoms of anxiety, distress and discomfort, among others that the pathological dependent technologies tend to feel when they can't be connected. Objective: Our focus intends to define the psychopathological and social demographic profile of the daily abusive users of the CIC, as well as to point out the difference between pathological dependent individuals of the CIC. Methods: A descriptive and quantitative study taken into effect for 18 months, using specific instruments, evaluated 113 volunteers showing an abusive daily use of CIC, there being 72 individuals with an associated disorder and 41 individuals of the control group showing no disorders. For both groups, we offered orientation for a conscious use of the technologies as well as medical and psychological treatments. Results: we were able to trace the profile of the men and women of the “Disorder Group”, in relation to the abusive use of the CIC technologies. The most abusive daily users of these technologies were the women (69%) ranging from 18 to 29 years of age. The psychopathologic profile revealed that within the mental disorders researched, the generalized anxiety disorder (85%), following it, panic (51%), agoraphobia (49%), depression (43%), social phobia (15%, obsessive compulsive disorder (13%), post-traumatic stress (6%) and anorexia (1%). Conclusion: We can conclude that there is a relationship between the psychiatric disorders with the abusive use of technologies.