Problematic internet use in child- and adolescent psychiatric patients

Objectives To investigate internet use in hospitalized juveniles and to outline possible links between personality traits, psychopathology and patterns of internet use and misuse.

Methods A cohort of juveniles admitted to an Austrian university inpatient clinic was tested for their internet use with AICA-S (Scale for the Assessment of Internet and Computer Game Addiction) and CIUS (Compulsive Internet Use Scale). Both scales assess the presence of problematic internet use (PIU) on a six- and five point scale, respectively. Psychopathology was assessed using the MINI-KID (Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview for children and adolescents) and the YSR (Youth Self Report). For the assessment of personality, the JTCI (Junior Temperament and Character Inventory) was used.

Results Preliminary data of a sample of 62 patients showed that a majority of the sample was female (61.3%). Psychopathology was highly prevalent. The most common diagnoses were lifetime major depressive disorder (71%), panic disorder (58.1%) and generalized anxiety disorder (54.8%). Mean internet behavior variables ranged from 0.74 ± 1.214 (consumption concealment) to 3.13 ± 1.604 (emotion regulation) in the AICA-S and 1.95 ± 1.093 (unsuccessful attempt of spending less time using the internet) and 3.47 ± 1.183 (using the internet in order to cope with bad feelings) in the CIUS.

Conclusion Problematic internet behavior might be another expression of severe psychopathology or serves as a compensatory mechanism when other levels of functioning are severely affected. Preliminary results point in that direction. Further analyses are needed.