Severity Of Internet Addiction Research Articles

The relationship between second-to-fourth digit (2D:4D) ratios and problematic and pathological Internet use among Turkish university students.

Background and aimsThe ratio of the second and fourth fingers (2D:4D ratio) is a sexually dimorphic trait, with men tending to have lower values than women. This ratio has been related to prenatal testosterone concentrations and addictive behaviors including problematic video-gaming. We aimed to investigate the possible association between 2D:4D ratios and Internet addiction and whether such a relationship would be independent of impulsivity.MethodsA total of 652 university students (369 women, 283 men), aged 17–27 years, were enrolled in the study. Problematic and pathological Internet use (PPIU) was assessed using the Internet Addiction Test (IAT). The participants also completed the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (version 11; BIS-11) and had their 2D:4D ratios measured.Results2D:4D ratios were not significantly different in women with PPIU and in those with adaptive Internet use (AIU). Men with PPIU exhibited lower 2D:4D ratios on both hands when compared with those with AIU. Correlation analysis revealed that 2D:4D ratios on both hands were negatively correlated with IAT scores among men, but not among women. The multiple linear regression analysis revealed that age, duration of weekly Internet use, impulsiveness, and 2D:4D ratios on the right hand were independently associated with IAT scores among men, and impulsivity did not mediate the relationship between 2D:4D ratios and PPIU.ConclusionsFor men, 2D:4D ratios on the right hand were inversely correlated with Internet addiction severity even after controlling for individual differences in impulsivity. These findings suggest that high prenatal testosterone levels may contribute to the occurrence of PPIU among men.

Abnormal illness behavior and Internet addiction severity: The role of disease conviction, irritability, and alexithymia.

Background and aimsWhile the association between health anxiety and maladaptive Internet use is a well-established finding, no studies have been performed to examine the possible effect of abnormal illness behavior (AIB). AIB is a maladaptive manner of experiencing, evaluating, or acting in response to health and illness that is disproportionate to evident pathology. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between AIB and Internet addiction (IA) severity in a sample of Italian University students. The possible effect of alexithymia, anxiety, and depression was also taken into account.MethodsParticipants were 115 men and 163 women (mean age = 23.62 ± 4.38 years); AIB was measured via the Illness Behavior Questionnaire (IBQ), and IA severity by the Internet Addiction Test (IAT).ResultsThe most powerful IBQ factor predicting IA severity scores was disease conviction. Irritability was the only emotional IBQ factor associated with IA severity. Nevertheless, disease conviction and alexithymia remained the only significant predictors of IAT scores when hierarchical regression analysis was executed.Discussion and conclusionsOur results support previous findings showing that those characterized by health anxiety are more prone to an excessive and maladaptive use of Internet. Moreover, this study showed that irritability was the only emotional aspect of AIB predicting IA severity. This finding is consistent with the cognitive model of hypochondria, which states that cognitive factors (dysfunctional beliefs and assumptions) play a major role in the explanation of this psychopathological condition.

A cross-sectional study on internet addiction among medical students

Background: Proliferation of the internet has provided better opportunities for communication, information and social interaction. The excessive undisciplined use by individuals has led to the emergence of the concept of internet addiction. Psychological and environmental factors in the lives of college students may leave them disproportionately vulnerable to Internet addiction. The main objective of this study was to measure prevalence of internet addiction and the usage pattern among undergraduate medical students.Methods: The present cross-sectional study was carried out among 95 undergraduate students of II MBBS, selected by simple random sampling, in Kurnool Medical College, Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, from January to February, 2016. A 20 item Young’s Internet Addiction test which is a Likert scale based interview schedule was used to measure the prevalence of internet addiction. Data was entered in MS Excel 2007 and analyzed. Chisquare test was applied and p value <0.05 considered significant.Results: Among the 95 study subjects, 62.2% were males and 37.8% were females. Males were more addicted to internet than females. The prevalence of internet addiction among the study subjects in the present study was 52.63% mild, 24.21% moderate, while 23.16% students reported normal internet usage. It was found that severity of internet addiction is inversely proportional to academic performance.Conclusions: Internet addiction is a growing health problem among medical students, hence necessary preventive and therapeutic interventions are vital to promote healthy and safe usage of Internet.

A study of the relationship between internet addiction, psychopathology and dysfunctional beliefs

Background and aimsPsychopathological symptoms, particularly depression and anxiety, increase with the severity of Internet Addiction (IA). In this study, we aimed to assess the relationship of severity of IA and Dysfunctional Attitudes (DA) with psychopathological characteristics. MethodsTwo hundred and twelve university students were included in the study. The subjects were assessed using the Internet Addiction Scale (IAS), the Symptom Checklist (SCL-90) and the Dysfunctional Attitude Scale (DAS). ResultsThe subjects were divided into three groups according to the IAS, which was conducted to screen for IA: no addiction, mild and moderate/high addiction. 108 (50.9%) of the subjects were found to have no addiction, 70 (33.01%) to have a mild addiction and 34 (16.03%) to have a moderate/high addiction. Psychopathological symptoms and dysfunctional attitudes increase with the severity of IA. In addition to the psychopathologic features, dysfunctional attitudes have limited effects on explaining the IA. ConclusionsIn the cognitive-behavioral treatment of IA, focusing on a perfectionist attitude and a need for approval, which are part of a dysfunctional attitude, may be beneficial.

Exploring Associations between Problematic Internet Use, Depressive Symptoms and Sleep Disturbance among Southern Chinese Adolescents.

The primary aim of this study was to examine associations between problematic Internet use, depression and sleep disturbance, and explore whether there were differential effects of problematic Internet use and depression on sleep disturbance. A total of 1772 adolescents who participated in the Shantou Adolescent Mental Health Survey were recruited in 2012 in Shantou, China. The Chinese version of the Internet Addiction Test (IAT) was used to evaluate the prevalence and severity of Internet addiction. The Chinese version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), a 10-item version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD-10), and other socio-demographic measures were also completed. Multiple regression analysis was used to test the mediating effect of problematic Internet use and depression on sleep disturbance. Among the participants, 17.2% of adolescents met the criteria for problematic Internet use, 40.0% were also classified as suffering from sleep disturbance, and 54.4% of students had depressive symptoms. Problematic Internet use was significantly associated with depressive symptoms and sleep disturbance. The correlation between depressive symptoms and sleep disturbance was highly significant. Both problematic Internet use (β = 0.014; Sobel test Z = 12.7, p < 0.001) and depression (β = 0.232; Sobel test Z = 3.39, p < 0.001) had partially mediating effects on sleep disturbance and depression was of greater importance for sleep disturbance than problematic Internet use. There is a high prevalence of problematic Internet use, depression and sleep disturbance among high school students in southern China, and problematic Internet use and depressive symptoms are strongly associated with sleep disturbance. This study provides evidence that problematic Internet use and depression have partially mediating effects on sleep disturbance. These results are important for clinicians and policy makers with useful information for prevention and intervention efforts.

Sleep problems and internet addiction among children and adolescents: a longitudinal study.

Although the literature has documented associations between sleep problems and internet addiction, the temporal direction of these relationships has not been established. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the bidirectional relationships between sleep problems and internet addiction among children and adolescents longitudinally. A four-wave longitudinal study was conducted with 1253 children and adolescents in grades 3, 5 and 8 from March 2013 to January 2014. The sleep problems of the student participants were measured by parental reports on the Sleep Habit Questionnaire, which catalogues early insomnia, middle insomnia, disturbed circadian rhythm, periodic leg movements, sleep terrors, sleepwalking, sleep talking, nightmares, bruxism, snoring and sleep apnoea. The severity of internet addiction was measured by students' self-reports on the Chen Internet Addiction Scale. Based on the results of time-lag models, dyssomnias (odds ratio=1.31), especially early and middle insomnias (odds ratio=1.74 and 2.24), sequentially predicted internet addiction, and internet addiction sequentially predicted disturbed circadian rhythm (odds ratio=2.40), regardless of adjustment for gender and age. This is the first study to demonstrate the temporal relationship of early and middle insomnia predicting internet addiction, which subsequently predicts disturbed circadian rhythm. These findings imply that treatment strategies for sleep problems and internet addiction should vary according to the order of their occurrence.

Exploring levels of Internet addiction among medical interns: a cross-sectional study

Background: Internet has invaded into our daily activities. There is rising concern over increased Internet usage especially among younger generation. Internet overusage affects them at various levels of academics, interpersonal relationship, and physical and health aspects. Medical definition of Internet addiction is based on compulsive act of using Internet despite one’s best interest. Objective: To estimate the level of Internet addiction among medical interns and understand patterns of Internet usage among them. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among interns of medical college in March 2016. Data were collected through self-administered questionnaire which contained sociodemographic, Internet usage pattern information and Young’s 20-item Internet addiction test (IAT). Severity of Internet addiction was graded as per the scale. Result: According to IAT, of 130 study participants, 70 (53.85%) were normal users, 41 (31.54%) showed mild, and 19 (14.61%) showed moderate levels of Internet addiction. Mean duration of Internet use/day was found to be 2.25  1.07 years. Majority [120 (92.31%)] of the study participants used smartphone. Males were more addicted to Internet than female subjects. Using 3G speed of Internet was significantly associated with Internet addition. Conclusion: Internet addiction is identified as a matter of concern among medical interns. Awareness needs to be created regarding Internet addiction/problematic Internet use and developing a healthy and safe Internet use. Preventive measures should be instituted promptly to forestall the possible influence of Internet addiction on students.

Persistence of dysfunctional auditory information processing following pharmacotherapy in Internet gaming disorder: an event-related potential study

Event Abstract Back to Event Persistence of dysfunctional auditory information processing following pharmacotherapy in Internet gaming disorder: an event-related potential study Jung-Seok Choi1*, Minkyung Park1 and Yeon Jin Kim1 1 Department of Psychiatry, SMG-SNU Boramae Medical Center, Republic of Korea Aims: Internet gaming disorder (IGD), defined as inability to control internet-based games, leads to serious impairment in psychological and social functioning, but few studies exist that identify neurophysiological characteristics in IGD. The aim of this study was to determine neurophysiological markers associated with symptom changes in IGD patients following pharmacotherapy with outpatient management. Methods: Eighteen patients diagnosed with IGD (22.61 ± 5.10 years), and 29 healthy controls (HCs; 24.66 ± 3.80 years) participated in this study. IGD patients completed a 6-month of serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs)-based pharmacotherapy. Event-related potential (ERP) were acquired during an auditory oddball task in participants who were young adult males. For the IGD patients, ERP was recorded prior to and after treatment. Between-group differences and the pre-post treatment differences in P300 components were investigated using repeated measures analysis of variance. The primary treatment outcome was a change in score on the Young’s Internet Addiction Test from before and after treatment. Results: The IGD group showed significantly reduced P300 amplitudes at midline centro-parietal site compared with those in HC. Reduced P300 amplitudes in the IGD were not correlated with scores on Internet Addiction severity. After 6 months of treatment, there were no significant changes in P300 amplitudes between pre- and post-treatment of IGD, even though, the IGD patients exhibited significant improvements of their IGD symptoms measured by Young’s Internet Addiction Test. Furthermore, there were no significant ERP differences between responder and non-responder to a 6-month pharmacotherapy in patients with IGD. Conclusion: These results indicate that IGD has abnormalities of P300 index and reduced P300 amplitudes could be considered as a candidate trait marker of IGD. This study enhances our understanding of neurophysiological characteristics of IGD. Acknowledgements This work was supported by a grant from the National Research Foundation of Korea (2014M3C7A1062894). Keywords: event-related potential (ERP), Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD), Pharmacotherapy, Serotonin reuptake inhibitors, auditory information processing Conference: ASP2016 - The 26th Annual Meeting of the Australasian Society for Psychophysiology, Adelaide Australia, Adelaide,SA, Australia, 12 Dec - 14 Dec, 2016. Presentation Type: Poster Presentation Topic: Abstract (general) Citation: Choi J, Park M and Kim Y (2016). Persistence of dysfunctional auditory information processing following pharmacotherapy in Internet gaming disorder: an event-related potential study. Conference Abstract: ASP2016 - The 26th Annual Meeting of the Australasian Society for Psychophysiology, Adelaide Australia. doi: 10.3389/conf.fnhum.2016.221.00022 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 29 Oct 2016; Published Online: 05 Dec 2016. * Correspondence: Prof. Jung-Seok Choi, Department of Psychiatry, SMG-SNU Boramae Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea, choijs73@gmail.com Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Jung-Seok Choi Minkyung Park Yeon Jin Kim Google Jung-Seok Choi Minkyung Park Yeon Jin Kim Google Scholar Jung-Seok Choi Minkyung Park Yeon Jin Kim PubMed Jung-Seok Choi Minkyung Park Yeon Jin Kim Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.

Effect of Family Climate on Internet Addiction among College Students of Bathinda District

Internet is a worldwide, decentralized network of hundreds and thousands of computers linked to each other through satellites orbiting in the space. Presently internet is not only limited to computers but also includes millions of people who are connected to each other through the internet. It has emerged as a major source of communication. On the one hand it has helped lets millions of people to express themselves and communicate with people separated by millions of kilometers; on the other hand it makes people dependent. The advent of computers has given birth to a new form of addiction called internet addiction. The symptoms of internet addiction not only resemble the symptoms substance addiction but also are equally harmful. The severity of internet addiction has made American Psychological Association include it into the appendices of DSM-V. Lot of research has been initiated to see the variables playing a vital role in the development of internet addiction. As the family is the most significant unit in every individual’s life, so the present study aims to see the relationship between family climate and internet addiction.

Relationship between internet addiction, psychopathology and self-esteem among university students

Objectives. Internet addiction is closely associated with general psychopathology and interpersonal relationships. The aim of our study is to investigate the relationship between internet addiction, psychopathology and selfesteem among university students. Methods. One hundred and eighty-five volunteer university students were involved in this study. The participants are evaluated with socio-demographic data form, Internet Addiction Scale (IAS), Symptom Check List (SCL-90), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES). Results. In order to evaluate the internet addiction, the participants were divided into three internet addiction (IA) groups as none, and moderate/high according to their addiction status. The addiction status was assessed as risk of low level in 59 (31.89 %) participants, high level in 27 (14.59 %) participants and none in 99 (53.51%) participants. A high positive correlation was found between IAS and SCL-90 subscales and RSES ( p <0.001). In three different IA groups it was found out that all SCL-90 subscale averages increase ( p <0.001), and RSES subscale averages decrease ( p =0.001) as internet addiction severity increases. According to regression analysis it is seen that, all SCL-90 subscale scores explain 19.4% of IAS scores and, all SCL-90 subscales and RSES subscale scores explain 25% of IAS scores. Conclusions. Significant relationship was found between internet addiction and general psychopathology and self-esteem. This result shows that psychopathology and self-esteem must be taken into consideration as important parameters in approach to internet addiction.

Treating Internet Addiction – the Expert Perspective

Introduction Internet addiction is a behavioural problem that has gained increasing scientific recognition in the last decade, with some researchers claiming it is a '21st Century epidemic”, leading the APA to include Internet Gaming Disorder in the appendix of the DSM-5. Objectives/Aims Internet addiction treatment literature is scarce, particularly regarding the expert view on Internet addiction. To fill this gap in knowledge, this paper aims to explore how Internet addiction therapy experts experience the presenting problem of Internet addiction in psychotherapy. Methods A total of 20 psychotherapists from 6 different countries (i.e., Germany, UK, USA, Canada, Austria and Switzerland) were interviewed regarding their individual experience of treating clients suffering from Internet addiction. Data were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Results Two superordinate themes were identified during the analysis: 'risk” and 'addiction”. Risk factors included individual, situational and structural characteristics. Psychotherapists treating Internet addiction viewed Internet addiction as actual psychopathology, containing addiction symptoms, criteria and diagnosis, and drew on its similarities with other addictions. Conclusions Internet addiction treatment experts highlight the existence and severity of Internet addiction as psychopathology requiring professional therapy. Clients who seek help for their Internet addiction-related problems experience their condition as distressing and as significantly impairing their functioning. Internet addiction fulfils the conditions for a mental disorder classification as outlined in the DSM-5, and should be taken seriously not to marginalise those affected. Parents and significant others, researchers and clinicians, and healthcare and insurance providers may benefit from the presented insights.

Relationship of treatment outcome with monoamine neurotransmitter content in peripheral blood in patients with internet addiction disorder

Objective To investigate the changes of the concentrations of monoamine neurotransmitter serotonin(5-HT), dopamine(DA), norepinephrine(NE)in peripheral blood in patients with internet addiction disorder (IAD) between before and after the treatment, and to analyze the correlation with treatment effect. Methods 35 cases with IAD(IAD group)before and after treatment and 35 healthy volunteers matched with sex,age and education(control group)were detected the concentration of 5- HT in peripheral platelets by high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC), and DA and NE in plasma by enzyme-linked immuno- sorbent assay(ELISA), respectively. The Chinese Internet Addiction Scale(CIAS), Family Assessment Device(FAD), HAMD, HAMA were used to determine the internet addiction severity of two groups and the curative efficacy of IAD group. To compare the concentrations of 5- HT,DA,NE between before and after treatment in IAD group, and compared with the control group, and the correlation analysis was performed between it and the treatment effect(scale). Results (1) Before treatment, the concentration of 5- HT in IAD group(427.82±136.28)ng/L was significantly lower than in the control group(522.63±123.25)ng/L(t= 3.052,P 0.05).(3) The negative correlation was found between the concentration of 5- HT and the scores of scales(CIAS,FAD,HAMa+ d)(r=- 0.653,- 0.547,- 0.409,all P< 0.05),while DA had significantly positive correlation with the scores(r= 0.406, 0.375,0.423,all P< 0.05),NE was positively correlated with the scores(r= 0.505,0.338,0.545,all P< 0.05). Conclusion The concentrations of monoamine neurotransmitters in the peripheral blood in patients with IAD may be related to the efficacy. The concentration of 5- HT had positive correlation with the efficacy, DA,NE had negative correlation with it. Key words: Behavior, Addictive; Computer Communication Networks; Monoamine neurotransmitter; 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT); Dopamine(DA); Norepinephrine(NE); Treatment Outcome

Decision-making for risky gains and losses among college students with Internet gaming disorder.

Individuals with Internet gaming disorder (IGD) tend to exhibit disadvantageous risky decision-making not only in their real life but also in laboratory tasks. Decision-making is a complex multifaceted function and different cognitive processes are involved in decision-making for gains and losses. However, the relationship between impaired decision-making and gain versus loss processing in the context of IGD is poorly understood. The main aim of the present study was to separately evaluate decision-making for risky gains and losses among college students with IGD using the Cups task. Additionally, we further examined the effects of outcome magnitude and probability level on decision-making related to risky gains and losses respectively. Sixty college students with IGD and 42 matched healthy controls (HCs) participated. Results indicated that IGD subjects exhibited generally greater risk taking tendencies than HCs. In comparison to HCs, IGD subjects made more disadvantageous risky choices in the loss domain (but not in the gain domain). Follow-up analyses indicated that the impairment was associated to insensitivity to changes in outcome magnitude and probability level for risky losses among IGD subjects. In addition, higher Internet addiction severity scores were associated with percentage of disadvantageous risky options in the loss domain. These findings emphasize the effect of insensitivity to losses on disadvantageous decisions under risk in the context of IGD, which has implications for future intervention studies.

Re-visiting internet addiction among Taiwanese students: a cross-sectional comparison of students' expectations, online gaming, and online social interaction.

Using expectancy theory, this study aimed at identifying the attitudinal/behavioral factors that explain the relationship between Internet expectancies and Internet addiction among Taiwanese adolescents. A total of 25,573 students (49.8% boys and 50.2% girls) across junior and senior high schools participated in the study. The students reported on their background characteristics, general expectations from the Internet, attitudes toward online social interaction and online gaming, preferences in online social interaction, and dys-controlled online gaming behavior. Structural equation modeling was used to examine the indirect effects of Internet expectancies on Internet addiction through these attitudinal/behavioral factors. The results showed that Internet expectancies positively predicted students' attitudes toward online games and online social interaction, which in turn predicted their respective preferences or dys-controlled behavior and Internet addiction. The indirect effect of Internet expectancies was higher on Internet addiction via attitudes toward online gaming and dys-controlled online gaming than via attitudes toward and preferences of online social interaction. The indirect effects exhibited a larger impact on boys than on girls. The authors recommend that the expectancies of online gaming and social interaction be addressed in efforts to prevent and attenuate the severity of adolescent Internet addiction.

The relationship between alexithymia, anxiety, depression, and internet addiction severity in a sample of Italian high school students.

We aimed to assess whether Internet addiction (IA) severity was related to alexithymia scores among high school students, taking into account the role of gender differences and the possible effect of anxiety, depression, and age. Participants in the study were 600 students (ages ranging from 13 to 22; 48.16% girls) recruited from three high schools in two cities from Southern Italy. Participants completed a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Toronto Alexithymia Scale, the Internet Addiction Test, the Hamilton Anxiety Scale, and the Hamilton Depression Scale. The findings of the study showed that IA scores were associated with alexithymia scores, over and above the effect of negative emotions and age. Students with pathological levels of alexithymia reported higher scores on IA severity. In particular, results showed that difficulty in identifying feelings was significantly associated with higher scores on IA severity. No effect of gender was found. Implications for clinicians were discussed.

The Difference in Comorbidities and Behavioral Aspects between Internet Abuse and Internet Dependence in Korean Male Adolescents.

ObjectiveThis study examined the differences in psychiatric comorbidities and behavioral aspects in accordance with the severity of Internet addiction in male adolescents.MethodsOne hundred and twenty-five adolescents from four middle and high schools in Seoul were enrolled in this study. The subjects were divided into non-addict, abuse, and dependence groups according to a diagnostic interview by psychiatrists. The psychiatric comorbidities and behavioral aspects of subjects were evaluated through psychiatric clinical interviews based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th edition), the Children's Depression Inventory, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Internet Addiction Test, and a self-reported questionnaire about behavioral aspects.ResultsThe psychiatric comorbidity distributions were significantly different in the abuse and dependence groups, particularly in terms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and mood disorder items. The Children's Depression Inventory, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the Internet Addiction Test scores were also significantly different among the three groups. There were significant differences in 10 of the 20 items of the Internet Addiction Test between the non-addict, abuse, and dependence groups. There were significant differences in seven items between the non-addict and abuse groups, but no differences between subjects in the abuse and dependence groups. Significant differences were observed in three items between the abuse and dependence groups, but there were no significant differences between the non-addict and abuse groups. In terms of behavioral aspects, scores for abusive, sexual, and decreased social interest behaviors were highest in the dependence group, and lowest in the non-addict group. However, the behavioral aspects of decreased interpersonal relationships did not show this difference between groups.ConclusionThis study suggests that there are differences in psychiatric comorbidities and behavioral aspects between adolescent males with characteristics of Internet abuse and Internet dependence.

The relationship of Internet addiction severity with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder symptoms in Turkish University students; impact of personality traits, depression and anxiety

AimThe aim of this study was to investigate the relationship of Internet addiction (IA) with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) symptoms while controlling the effect of personality traits, depression and anxiety symptoms in Turkish university students. MethodsA total of 271 university students participated in the present study. The students were assessed through the Internet Addiction Scale (IAS), the Wender Utah Rating Short Scale (WURS-25), the Turkish version of the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS), the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire Revised Abbreviated Form (EPQR-A), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). ResultsAccording to IAS, participants were separated into three groups, namely, moderate/high, mild and without IA groups. The rates of groups were 19.9% (n=54), 38.7% (n=105) and 41.3% (n=112), respectively. Correlation analyses revealed that the severity of IAS is positively correlated with WURS-25, ASRS (total, inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity subscales), neuroticism personality trait, depression and anxiety scores, whereas it is negatively correlated with extraversion personality trait. Hierarchical regression analysis indicated that depression and anxiety symptoms, introversion and neuroticism personality traits and the severity of ADHD symptoms (particularly hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms) are the predictors for IAS score, respectively. ConclusionsThe severity of ADHD symptoms has predicted the severity of IA even after controlling the effect of personality traits, depression and anxiety symptoms among Turkish university students. University students with severe ADHD symptoms, particularly hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms may be considered as a risk group for IA.

Resting-state beta and gamma activity in Internet addiction

Internet addiction is the inability to control one's use of the Internet and is related to impulsivity. Although a few studies have examined neurophysiological activity as individuals with Internet addiction engage in cognitive processing, no information on spontaneous EEG activity in the eyes-closed resting-state is available. We investigated resting-state EEG activities in beta and gamma bands and examined their relationships with impulsivity among individuals with Internet addiction and healthy controls. Twenty-one drug-naïve patients with Internet addiction (age: 23.33±3.50years) and 20 age-, sex-, and IQ-matched healthy controls (age: 22.40±2.33years) were enrolled in this study. Severity of Internet addiction was identified by the total score on Young's Internet Addiction Test. Impulsivity was measured with the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11 and a stop-signal task. Resting-state EEG during eyes closed was recorded, and the absolute/relative power of beta and gamma bands was analyzed. The Internet addiction group showed high impulsivity and impaired inhibitory control. The generalized estimating equation showed that the Internet-addiction group showed lower absolute power on the beta band than did the control group (estimate=−3.370, p<0.01). On the other hand, the Internet-addiction group showed higher absolute power on the gamma band than did the control group (estimate=0.434, p<0.01). These EEG activities were significantly associated with the severity of Internet addiction as well as with the extent of impulsivity. The present study suggests that resting-state fast-wave brain activity is related to the impulsivity characterizing Internet addiction. These differences may be neurobiological markers for the pathophysiology of Internet addiction.

Relationship of Internet Addiction Severity with Depression, Anxiety, and Alexithymia, Temperament and Character in University Students

The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship of Internet addiction (IA) severity with alexithymia, temperament, and character dimensions of personality in university students while controlling for the effect of depression and anxiety. A total of 319 university students from two conservative universities in Ankara volunteered for the study. Students were investigated using the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20, the Temperament and Character Inventory, the Internet Addiction Scale, the Beck Anxiety Inventory, and the Beck Depression Inventory. Of the university students enrolled in the study, 12.2 percent (n=39) were categorized into the moderate/high IA group (IA 7.2 percent, high risk 5.0 percent), 25.7 percent (n=82) were categorized into the mild IA group, and 62.1 percent (n=198) were categorized into the group without IA. Results revealed that the rate of moderate/high IA group membership was higher in men (20.0 percent) than women (9.4 percent). Alexithymia, depression, anxiety, and novelty seeking (NS) scores were higher; whereas self-directedness (SD) and cooperativeness (C) scores were lower in the moderate/high IA group. The severity of IA was positively correlated with alexithymia, whereas it was negatively correlated with SD. The "difficulty in identifying feelings" and "difficulty in describing feelings" factors of alexithymia, the low C and high NS dimensions of personality were associated with the severity of IA. The direction of this relationship between alexithymia and IA, and the factors that may mediate this relationship are unclear. Nevertheless, university students exhibiting high alexithymia and NS scores, along with low character scores (SD and C) should be closely monitored for IA.

Usefulness of Young's Internet Addiction Test for clinical populations

Background: Young's Internet Addiction Test (IAT) is one of the most widely used scales for assessing Internet addiction. Aims: The purpose of the current study was to investigate the value of IAT for subjects clinically diagnosed with Internet addiction. Methods: A total of 52 subjects, whose chief complaint and most serious behavioral problem was Internet addiction, were enrolled at an Internet-addiction clinic associated with a university hospital. The IAT was administered to assess the existence and severity of Internet addiction. Subjects were classified according to the severity guidelines of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition, text revision (DSM-IV-TR) and according to the duration of their Internet addiction. Results: The mean IAT score of our clinical subjects was 62.8 ± 18.2, which was below 70, the cut-off point indicating significant problems. The IAT detected only 42% of the clinical subjects as having significant problems with Internet addiction. No significant differences in IAT scores among those with mild, moderate and severe degrees of Internet addition were found, and no association between IAT scores and duration of illness was observed. Conclusions: IAT scores were not significant correlated with clinical severity and duration of illness in a clinical population. This instrument had limited clinical utility for evaluating the severity of Internet addiction. Considerable caution is required in interpretations of IAT scores.