Clinical Sample Of Adolescents Research Articles

Psychopathic Traits, Externalizing Problems, and Prosocial Behavior: The Role of Social Dominance Orientation.

Psychopathic traits in community and referred youths are strongly associated with severe externalizing problems and low prosocial behavior. However, less is known about the mechanisms that may link youth psychopathy and these outcomes. Social dominance orientation (SDO), defined as the general individual orientation toward unequal and dominant/subordinate relationships, might represent a valuable construct to explore to better understand the association between psychopathic traits, externalizing problems, and prosocial behavior. Based on this, the current study aimed to investigate the relationship between psychopathic traits, SDO, externalizing problems, and prosocial behavior in a community sample (N = 92, 45.57% females, mean age = 12.53, and SD = 0.60) and in a clinical (N = 29, 9% female, mean age = 12.57, and SD = 0.57) samples of adolescents with Oppositional Defiant Disorder or Conduct Disorder. Results showed that SDO mediated the relationship between psychopathic traits and externalizing problems and between psychopathic traits and prosocial behavior only in the clinical sample. These findings can provide valuable information on psychopathic trait correlates in youths with aggressive behavior disorders; treatment implications are discussed.

Dissociation in a developmental psychopathology framework: Predictors and outcomes among a clinical sample of trauma-impacted adolescents.

A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) of the Adolescent Dissociative Experiences Scale (A-DES) that found a best-fitting three-factor model for a trauma-exposed sample was recently replicated; however, a post hoc bifactor CFA model fit the data better and identified a strong general factor. Only the general factor was associated with cumulative trauma exposure, but this association was small. Structural equation modeling (SEM) and regression analyses were applied to the best-fitting three-factor bifactor model of dissociation found in the same sample of 1,157 treatment-seeking adolescents, most with high levels of trauma exposure, to further elucidate dissociation's construct validity and dimensionality. The general factor was positively yet differentially associated with psychosocial outcomes. A dissociation by age interaction emerged for internalizing problems, demonstrating that the positive association was stronger for older participants. Also, an age of trauma exposure onset by dissociation interaction emerged predicting depression, such that later trauma onset produced a stronger association between dissociation and depression. Traumas occurring in later adolescence may confer greater risk of dissociation. Differential psychosocial outcomes also reinforce why approaching dissociation from a developmental psychopathology lens is important, enhancing the model's generalizability. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Is a brief screen for personality disorder clinically useful for the detection of impairment in personality functioning in adolescents?

The Standardized Assessment of Personality-Abbreviated Scale (SAPAS) has been used extensively to screen for personality disorders (PD), including adolescents. Yet, it is unclear how well the SAPAS performs in screening for impairment in personality functioning (IPF), Criterion A of the alternative Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition model for PD (AMPD) in adolescent samples. We examined the performance of the SAPAS in detecting IPF at a diagnostic threshold for PD in the AMPD. A consecutive clinical sample of adolescents in Bern, Switzerland (N = 293), were first administered the SAPAS, then the Semistructured Interview for Personality Functioning Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (STiP-5.1). A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to determine the diagnostic accuracy of the SAPAS in relation to the STiP-5.1. ROC regression analyses were conducted to determine if other variables moderated the discriminant performance of the SAPAS. Internal consistency of the SAPAS was low (α = .54) and overall discriminatory accuracy was moderate (area under the curve = .73). The optimum cut-off point was 5, with the best balance of sensitivity and specificity (63.22 and 69.90, respectively), correctly classifying 67.92% of participants. Agreement between the SAPAS and the STiP-5.1 using this cut-off was low (κ = .30). Age yielded statistically significant effects on the discriminant performance of the SAPAS-performance improving among older adolescents. Findings suggest that the SAPAS may not be the optimal method of screening for Criterion A IPF among adolescents in clinical settings but might also be more suited to Criterion B. Our findings call for a developmentally adapted screener for early detection of PD represented by IPF in adolescents. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Psychological inflexibility explains social anxiety over time:a mediation analyses with a clinical adolescent sample.

Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) has its usual onset during adolescence when it is a highly prevalent and debilitating condition. Evidence regarding the processes that underline social anxiety and SAD is not compelling, especially in adolescents. Within an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) framework, the causal role of ACT processes on adolescents' social anxiety and how these processes contribute to sustain social anxiety over time is still unknown. Hence, this study explored the role of psychological inflexibility (PI) and acceptance and committed action (as psychological flexibility processes) on social anxiety over time, in a clinical sample of adolescents. Twenty-one adolescents (Mage = 16.19, SD = 0.750) with a primary diagnosis of SAD completed a set of self-report measures assessing PI, acceptance (i.e., willingness to experience social anxiety symptoms), action (i.e., moving towards valued life directions despite social anxiety symptoms) and social anxiety. Path analysis was used to investigate a mediation model linking acceptance, committed action, and PI to social anxiety, directly and indirectly. Findings revealed that acceptance and action were negatively and directly associated with PI after 10-weeks. In turn, PI yielded a positive and direct effect on social anxiety after another 12-weeks. PI totally mediated the relation between acceptance and action and social anxiety, with significant indirect effects. Overall, findings offer evidence for the applicability of the ACT model to adolescent SAD and support the use of clinical interventions targeting PI to understand and alleviate adolescents' social anxiety.

A cross-sectional study on gaming intensity and social vulnerability in adolescents that have a chronic condition.

Adolescents growing up with a chronic condition might experience more social vulnerabilities compared to their healthy peers as an indirect result of their conditions. This can lead to a relatedness need frustration for these adolescents. Consequently, they might spend more time playing video games compared to their peers. Research shows that both social vulnerability and gaming intensity are predictors for problematic gaming. Therefore, we investigated if social vulnerability and gaming intensity are more pronounced in adolescents that have a chronic condition compared to the general population; and if these levels reflect the levels of a clinical group being treated for Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD). Data on peer problems and gaming intensity were compared from three separate samples: a national representative sample of adolescents, a clinical sample of adolescents that are undergoing treatment for IGD, and a sample of adolescents diagnosed with a chronic condition. No differences were found on either peer problems or gaming intensity between the group of adolescents that have chronic conditions and the national representative group. The group with chronic conditions scored significantly lower on gaming intensity than the clinical group. No significant differences were found between these groups on peer problems. We repeated the analyses for boys only. Similar results were found for the group with chronic conditions compared to the national representative group. The group with chronic conditions now scored significantly lower on both peer problems and gaming intensity than the clinical group. Adolescents growing up with a chronic condition appear similar in their gaming intensity and peer problems compared to their healthy peers.

Self-Harm Behaviors, Suicide Attempts, and Suicidal Ideation in a Clinical Sample of Children and Adolescents with Psychiatric Disorders

Suicidal ideation and self-harm behaviors have been found to be important risk factors for suicide. The aim of this study was to explore the rates of psychiatric disorders among different groups of patients with suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and non-suicidal self-harm behaviors and to identify the associated socio-demographic and clinical variables. We conducted a cross-sectional study with emergency-admitted patients presenting with non-suicidal self-harm behaviors, suicide attempts, or suicidal ideation to the emergency room of the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Clinic in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. Data were collected from the patients' charts using a questionnaire that contained socio-demographic and clinical variables. A total of 95 patients aged between 6 and 18 years were included in the study. Ingesting medication and cutting were the most frequently used methods to attempt suicide. Depression and mixed affective and conduct disorders were the diagnoses most commonly associated with suicidal behavior. Girls with depressive symptoms were more probable to have suicide attempts than boys, and girls with depressive symptoms and behavioral problems registered more self-harm behaviors. Further research should systematically examine the relationship between self-harm behaviors and suicide attempts and the profile of patients at risk of future suicide attempts.

Specific interpretation biases as a function of social anxiety and callous-unemotional traits in a community and a clinical adolescent sample

BackgroundThreatening and hostile interpretation biases are seen as causal and maintaining mechanisms of childhood anxiety and aggression, respectively. However, it is unclear whether these interpretation biases are specific to distinct problems or whether they are general psychopathological phenomena. The specificity versus pervasiveness of interpretation biases could also differ depending on mental health status. Therefore, in the current study, we investigated whether social anxiety and callous-unemotional (CU) traits were uniquely related to threatening and hostile interpretation biases, respectively, in both a community and a clinical sample of adolescents.MethodsA total of 161 adolescents between 10 to 15 years of age participated. The community sample consisted of 88 participants and the clinical sample consisted of 73 inpatients with a variety of psychological disorders. Social anxiety and CU-traits were assessed with self-report questionnaires. The Ambiguous Social Scenario Task was used to measure both threatening and hostile interpretations in response to written vignettes.ResultsResults showed that social anxiety was uniquely related to more threatening interpretations, while CU-traits were uniquely related to more hostile interpretations. These relationships were replicated for the community sample. For the clinical sample, only the link between social anxiety and threatening interpretations was significant. Explorative analyses showed that adolescents with externalizing disorders scored higher on hostile interpretations than adolescents with internalizing disorders.ConclusionsOverall, these results support the content-specificity of threatening interpretation biases in social anxiety and of hostile interpretation biases in CU-traits. Better understanding the roles of interpretation biases in different psychopathologies might open avenues for tailored prevention and intervention paradigms.

The Psychometric Properties of the General Phubbing Scale in Adolescents

Purpose: Numerous studies indicate that the use of smartphones among adolescents has increased recently. Studies on phubbing generally focus on how parental phubbing affects adolescents. This study aims to contribute to the literature by revealing the validity and reliability of the scale measuring phubbing behavior in adolescents.
 
 Material and Methods: The sample included 206 adolescents aged 12-17 who applied to Pamukkale University Medical Faculty Hospital Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Outpatient Clinics and Kırıkkale Yüksek İhtisas Hospital Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Outpatient Clinic.
 
 Results: To evaluate the construct validity of the General Phubbing Scale (GPS) in adolescents, first and second level confirmatory factor analyses were performed. The data model fit was shown to be at an acceptable level. The general phubbing was negatively related to social connectedness and positively related to internet addiction. Test-retest analysis indicated that the subdimensions nomophobia, interpersonal conflict, self-isolation, problem acceptance, and total score were 0.82, 0.80, 0.71, 0.66 and 0.81, respectively. The coefficients of internal consistency for the subdimensions of nomophobia, interpersonal conflict, self-isolation, problem acceptance, and total score were 0.78, 0.85, 0.92, 0.77, and 0.94. Furthermore, it has been shown that the GPS structure was identical for both genders.
 
 Conclusion: This study demonstrated that the GPS can be used as a valid and reliable measurement tool for determining general phubbing levels for the clinical adolescent sample.

65. Longitudinal Changes in Body Composition, Anxiety, and Depression in a Clinical Sample of Adolescents with Anorexia Nervosa

65. Longitudinal Changes in Body Composition, Anxiety, and Depression in a Clinical Sample of Adolescents with Anorexia Nervosa

User profiles of electronic ecological momentary assessment in outpatient child and adolescent mental health services

IntroductionElectronic ecological momentary assessment (EMA) can provide precise information regarding day-to-day functioning of patients overcoming some of the limitations of usual clinical evaluation; however adherence to this methodology might be a major threat. Research and application of EMA concerning clinical settings remains scant. Our goal was to study the user profiles of EMA in a clinical sample of adolescents. Material and methods209 adolescents following an outpatient mental health treatment accepted to use EMA. They were evaluated in different sociodemographic and clinical variables as well as the use that they made of EMA. Results39.7% of patients were considered users and 60.3% non-active users. Certain self-harm behaviours were more common in the group of active users, while hyperkinetic disorders were more common in the group of non-active users. A regression analysis revealed that non-suicidal self-injury (OR=2.99) and hyperkinetic disorders (OR=0.51) were related to the use of EMA. ConclusionThis preliminary study adds novel and promising information about EMA use in clinical practice. Adolescents with self-harm behaviours EMA seem more prone to use this tool. Our study provides support for actively monitoring self-harm behaviours with EMA. Future studies might consider a comprehensive analysis of adherence and EMA data collection.

Nonsuicidal self-injury in a clinical sample of adolescents in Serbia

Background/Aim. Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) among adolescents is recognized as a significant public health concern. Adolescents with mental health problems are at an especially high risk of NSSI. The aim of the study was to assess the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of patients with NSSI and the features of NSSI, as well as the impact of emotional reactivity and internalizing/externalizing problems on them. Methods. The observational study included a clinical sample of 111 adolescents treated at the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychiatric Clinic at the University Clinical Center of Vojvodina, from March 2018 to October 2019. The adolescents were divided into two groups: group A comprised of adolescents who had at least one episode of NSSI in the last year, and group B comprised of adolescents who had no NSSI episode in their experience. The following clinical scales were used to examine the differences between adolescents from group A and group B: self-report questionnaires about emotional and behavioral problems (Youth Self-Report ? YSR, Child Behavior Checklist ? CBCL), emotional reactivity (Emotion Reactivity Scale ? ERS), and suicidality (Self- Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors Interview ? SITBI). Results. Group A contained a total of 58 adolescents older than the subjects of group B and was predominated by female participants. They had the first episode of NSSI at 13.05 and the last at 14.80 years. The most common methods of NSSI were cutting, scratching, and biting. Adolescents from group A had higher scores on ERS, higher scores on internalizing and externalizing problems, as well as higher total scores on YSR, but there was no difference between groups regarding scores on the CBCL scale. Conclusion. Due to the results obtained for emotional and behavioral problems, adolescents with NSSI should have a detailed psychiatric assessment, including social support, pharmacotherapy, and psychotherapy, to better understand NSSI and help them develop better coping skills.

Compassion in three perspectives: Associations with depression and suicidal ideation in a clinical adolescent sample

Abstract Background Adolescence is a critical period for mental development where the consequences of psychopathologies can be exceedingly harmful, and compassion has been identified as a protective factor for adolescents’ mental well-being. Aim The aim of this study was to explore three perspectives of compassion – Self-compassion, Compassion for others, and Compassion from others – and their relationship with depression and suicidal ideation in adolescents. Method This Swedish cross-sectional study included 259 psychiatric patients (ages 16–22). Participants completed a survey including the self-assessment scales “Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale – Second Edition” (RADS-2), “Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire – Junior Version” (SIQ-JR), and “Compassion Engagement and Action Scale – Youth” (CEAS-Y). Linear regression analyses were used to determine whether participants’ levels of compassion predicted depression and suicidal ideation. Results Self-compassion and Compassion from others significantly predicted both depression and suicidal ideation. Girls, on average, reported higher levels of depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation and lower levels of self-compassion compared to boys. The correlation between compassion and depressive symptoms, however, appeared to be stronger in boys. There was also a positive correlation between Compassion for others and suicidal ideation. Conclusions The results suggest that Self-compassion and Compassion from others may have a significant protective effect against depression and suicidal ideation, especially in boys. However, due to the relatively small sample of boys (n = 40), further research is needed before any solid conclusion can be drawn regarding possible gender differences. Additionally, the combination of low Self-compassion and higher levels of Compassion for others may be associated with suicidal ideation.

The Association of Vaping With Social/Emotional Health and Attitudes Toward COVID-19 Mitigation Measures in Adolescent and Young Adult Cohorts During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Vaping is a major health risk behavior which often occurs socially. Limited social activity during the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to worsening social and emotional health. We investigated associations among youth vaping, and reports of worsening mental health, loneliness, and relationships with friends and romantic partners (ie, social health), as well as perceived attitudes toward COVID-19 mitigation measures. From October 2020 to May 2021, a clinical convenience sample of adolescents and young adults (AYA) reported on their past-year substance use, including vaping, their mental health, COVID-19 related exposures and impacts, and their attitudes toward non-pharmaceutical COVID-19 mitigation interventions, via a confidential electronic survey. Multivariate logistic regressions were used to estimate associations among vaping and social/emotional health. Of 474 AYA (mean age = 19.3 (SD = 1.6) years; 68.6% female), 36.9% reported vaping in the prior 12 months. AYA who self-reported vaping were more likely than non-vaping AYA to report worsening: anxiety/worry (81.1%; P = .036), mood (78.9%; P = .028), eating (64.6%; P = .015), sleep (54.3%; P = .019), family discord (56.6%; P = .034), and substance use (54.9%; P < .001). Participants who vaped also reported easy access to nicotine (63.4%; P < .001) and cannabis products (74.9%; P < .001). No difference in perceived change in social wellbeing was seen between the groups. In adjusted models, vaping was associated with symptoms of depression (AOR = 1.86; 95% CI = 1.06-3.29), less social distancing (AOR = 1.82; 95% CI = 1.11-2.98), lower perceived importance of proper mask wearing (AOR = 3.22; 95% CI = 1.50-6.93), and less regular use of masks (AOR = 2.98; 95% CI = 1.29-6.84). We found evidence that vaping was associated with symptoms of depression and lower compliance with non-pharmaceutical COVID-19 mitigation efforts among AYA during the COVID-19 pandemic.

What does it mean to flourish? Piloting the flourishing measure with adolescents and young adults with mood and anxiety disorders.

Introduction: Treatment for adolescents and young adults with mood and anxiety disorders typically focuses on recovery of symptoms and improvement in functioning. Measuring positive states of health-using self-report surveys such as the Flourishing Measure-may help to promote holistic treatment. We piloted the Flourishing Measure-Adolescent Version in a clinical sample of adolescents and young adults with mood and/or anxiety disorders to determine appropriateness and acceptability in this population.Methods: We recruited adolescents (age 12-18) and young adults (age 19-25) with mood and/or anxiety disorders from an outpatient psychiatry clinic associated with an academic hospital. We used cognitive interviewing, a method used in survey development that determines whether respondents' understanding aligns with instrument intention. Participants completed the Flourishing Measure and answered questions about their impressions of items.Results: Sixteen participants (10 adolescents and 6 young adults) participated in the study. Participants generally understood the concept of flourishing and the intention of individual items. The items were generally considered clear and participants offered minor suggestions for improvement in wording of the items.Discussion: Participants in our study understood the meaning of flourishing, as well as individual items in the measure. The Flourishing Measure may be suitable for use in clinical and research settings for adolescents and young adults, though piloting with larger, more diverse samples is needed.

Non-suicidal self-injury motivations in the light of self-harm severity indicators and psychopathology in a clinical adolescent sample.

Adolescents with psychiatric problems are also considered a vulnerable population in terms of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). In the current study, we examined the associations of interpersonal and intrapersonal NSSI motivations with several NSSI severity indicators and psychopathological characteristics. In a cross-sectional research design, 158 adolescents (83.5% girls; mean age = 16.10 years; SD = 1.49) who have received inpatient or outpatient psychiatric treatment completed the Inventory of Statements About Self-Injury, the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, and the Self-Critical Rumination Scale. More than two-thirds of the sample (75.3%; n = 119) reported at least one episode of NSSI in their life, and 45.38% (n = 54) have engaged in NSSI in the past month (current self-injury). The results indicated that only intrapersonal NSSI functions were linked to NSSI severity indicators (current and repetitive NSSI, versatility), interpersonal functions were not. Furthermore, a number of psychopathological features (co-occurring mental disorders, presence of a mood disorder, more internalizing mental illness symptoms, and more pronounced self-critical rumination) were associated with engaging in NSSI for intrapersonal reasons. We also identified other differences within the specific intrapersonal NSSI motivations. It should be highlighted that the anti-suicide function of NSSI behaved in exactly the opposite way as the other intrapersonal motivations. All this points to the fact that in clinical settings, detailed assessment of NSSI motivations and severity indicators can help to develop a more effective treatment plan.

2.99 Nightmares, But Not Sleep Quality, Correlate to Suicide Ideation Severity in a Clinical Sample of Adolescents

Suicide is the second leading cause of death in adolescents in the United States. Sleep disturbances are known risk factors for suicide ideation and behaviors. However, links between nightmares and suicide risk are understudied, especially in adolescents. Nightmares in relation to trauma and PTSD symptoms have been examined extensively, but work on the connection between nightmares and suicide risk, beyond the impact of trauma, is limited. The current study examined associations between sleep disturbances (ie, sleep quality and nightmares) and suicide ideation in a clinical sample of adolescents.

Cyberbullying and Gambling Disorder: Associations with Emotion Regulation and Coping Strategies

The presence of unsuitable coping and emotion regulation strategies in young populations with gambling disorder (GD) and in those who have experienced cyberbullying victimization has been suggested. However, this association has not been explored in depth. In this study, our aim was to analyze individual differences in emotion regulation, coping strategies, and substance abuse in a clinical sample of adolescents and young adult patients with GD (n = 31) and in a community sample (n = 250). Furthermore, we aimed to examine the association between cyberbullying and GD. Participants were evaluated using the Cyberbullying Questionnaire-Victimization, the Canadian Adolescent Gambling Inventory, the Coping Strategies Inventory, the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale, the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test and the Drug Use Disorders Identification Test. Structural Equation Modeling was used to explore associations between these factors in a community sample and in a clinical group. In both groups, exposure to cyberbullying behaviors was positively associated with higher emotion dysregulation and the use of maladaptative coping styles. Our findings uphold that adolescents and young adults who were victims of cyberbullying show difficulties in emotion regulation and maladaptive coping strategies when trying to solve problems. The specific contribution of sex, age, gambling severity, emotion regulation, and coping strategies on cyberbullying severity is also discussed. Populations at vulnerable ages could potentially benefit from public prevention policies that target these risk factors.

A Pre-Adolescent and Adolescent Clinical Sample Study about Suicidal Ideation, Suicide Attempt, and Self-Harming.

Suicide is the second cause of death among adolescents, and nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is one of the main risk factors for suicidal behavior. However, the possible variables specifically associated with suicidal ideation and suicide attempt, as well as the psychopathological characteristics linked to the concomitant presence of suicidal ideation/attempt and NSSI are still under-investigated in youth. The current study aimed to address these issues in a sample of 174 young Italian inpatients (Mage = 14.3 years ± 1.93, 78.2% girls). Sociodemographic and clinical variables were assessed through psycho-diagnostic interviews and ad hoc questionnaires. A binomial logistic regression was performed to identify the predictors of suicidal ideation and suicide attempt. Then, Kruskal–Wallis tests were run to analyze the psychopathological differences between patients with suicidal ideation and suicide attempt considering the coexistence of NSSI. The results highlighted that previous access to child mental health services and general psychopathological problems significantly predicted suicidal ideation, while previous hospitalizations, borderline personality functioning, and affective disorders significantly predicted suicide attempt. In general, inpatients with also NSSI reported higher levels of internalizing, somatic and total problems, impulsiveness, alexithymia, and emotional dysregulation. The clinical implications of our findings in terms of primary and secondary preventive programs are discussed.

Psychometric Properties of the Parent and Youth Versions of the Inadequate Boundaries Questionnaire in Community and Clinical Samples of Adolescents.

The Inadequate Boundaries Questionnaire (IBQ) was created as a multi-dimensional measure of boundary violations in parent-child relationships. Use of the IBQ has been increasing; however, its psychometric properties, including its proposed five-factor structure, have yet to be comprehensively evaluated. The current study examined the factor structure, reliability, mother-adolescent agreement, and convergent and discriminant validity of the IBQ-Parent and -Youth English versions among community and clinical adolescents and their mothers. Confirmatory factor analysis most strongly supported four factors: Guilt Induction-Psychological Control, Parentification, No Boundaries (Enmeshment), and Triangulation. The scales showed acceptable to excellent reliability. Mother-adolescent agreement was moderate in the healthy community sample and weaker in the clinical sample. Convergent and discriminant associations supported the validity of the Guilt Induction-Psychological Control scale, with a more complex picture emerging for other scales. Implications of these findings and directions for future research with the IBQ are discussed.

Problematic Internet Use Among Adolescent Male and Female Psychiatric Inpatients: A Gender Perspective

Problematic internet use (PIU) is of treatment interest in adolescent clinical samples. Gender specific differences in terms of personality traits and psychopathological symptoms remain unclear. In an adolescent clinical sample (n = 104; 69 girls) PIU, psychopathology, temperament and character traits as well as emotional and behavioral problems were assessed. 62% of the sample showed subthreshold PIU and 34% full PIU (fPIU). Boys reported more gaming whereas girls social networking. Sex specific analyses revealed gender differences: Girls with fPIU scored significantly higher on internalizing/externalizing problems/behavior, novelty seeking and transcendence, and lower on persistence, self-directedness, and cooperativeness than girls without fPIU. Boys with fPIU scored significantly higher on internalizing problems and self-transcendence and lower on harm avoidance than boys without fPIU. Gender plays an important role in PIU. Gender specific differences in both application use as well as symptomatic, temperament and character traits call for a gender specific approach in prevention and treatment integration.