Citation

Maremmani AGI, Cerniglia L, Cimino S, Maiello M, Rocca FD, Maremmani I. Heroin Addict. Relat. Clin. Probl. 2020; 22(4): 39-47.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2020, European Opiate Addiction Treatment Association, Publisher Pacini Editore)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Problematic Internet Use (PIU), which may otherwise be called excessive Internet use, is distinguished by excessive or poorly controlled preoccupations, urges, or behaviours regarding computer use and internet access; and shows high comorbidity associated with psychiatric disorders. In previous studies, our Research Group highlighted five psychopathological dimensions that appear to be specific to SUD (1-Worthlessness-Being Trapped; 2-Somatic Symptoms; 3-Sensitivity-Psychoticism; 4-Panic Anxiety and 5-Violence-Suicide).

METHODS: We have investigated the association between PIU and the specific psychopathology of SUD, as assessed by SCL-90, in 493 young people 16.35±0.9 years old (min 15, max 21). Of these, 244 (49.5%) were males and 249 (50.5%) females. We divided the sample according to the cut-off (15 scores) of the Problematic Internet Use Questionnaire Short Form (PIUQ-SF-6) in 411 (83.4%) without and 82 (16.6%) with problematic use. We used the discriminant analysis with the SCL-90 five dimensions we found in SUD patients to differentiate these two groups.

RESULTS: The groups were homogenous regarding age (F=0.14; p=0.989) and gender (chi=0.01 p=0.920). We found no difference between males and females according to the subject's age, the SCL90 total score and the severity of PIU. The psychopathology specific to SUD discriminated (p<0.001) between subjects with and without problematic use of the Internet at 98.2%. The subjects with PIU were marked out by the high severity of the Panic Anxiety and Somatic Symptoms dimensions. They more frequently showed Panic Anxiety and, less frequently, Sensitivity-Psychoticism as their predominant psychopathological typology.

CONCLUSIONS: Our five psychopathological dimensions made it possible to differentiate between young people with and without PIU, so allowing these dimensions to be considered a newly available tool in monitoring Internet use in youngsters. © 2020, Pacini Editore S.p.A. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

adolescent; adult; human; age; violence; suicide; female; male; suicidal ideation; depression; sex difference; anxiety; psychosis; scoring system; comorbidity; disease severity; monitoring; Psychopathology; major clinical study; mental disease; questionnaire; obsession; priority journal; drug dependence; neglect; cohort analysis; phobia; dizziness; Article; Symptom Checklist 90; young adult; internet addiction; worthlessness; Substance Use Disorder; positive symptom distress index; Problematic Internet Use; Problematic Internet Use Questionnaire Short Form