TY - JOUR
T1 - Problematic use of Internet in a sample of psychiatric outpatients: preliminary observations from the “real world”
AU - Prevete, Elisabeth
AU - Minotti, Giulia
AU - Gnagnarella, Camilla
AU - Ciambella, Marta
AU - Valcovich, Giulia
AU - Sarno, Francesca
AU - Corazza, Ornella
AU - Simione, Luca
AU - Bersani, Giuseppe
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 Il Pensiero Scientifico Editore s.r.l.. All rights reserved.
PY - 2024/7/1
Y1 - 2024/7/1
N2 - Objective. This study aims to explore the prevalence, characteristics, and psychopathology related to Problematic Use of Internet (PUI), including Internet Addiction (IA), within a sample of psychiatric outpatients. Methods. 143 psychiatric stable outpatients (18-65, mean age: 49; F=84) were included in this study, regardless of their categorical diagnosis. Socio-demographic, clinical, psychopathological, and Internet use-related data (PIU-Scale, Internet Addiction Test, devices, use, activities) were collected across the sample. Results. The prevalence of PUI ranged between 1% (IAT) and 25% (PIU-S), with a homogeneous distribution of PUI symptoms’ severity among the four main psychopathological areas (depressive, bipolar, anxiety, and psychotic disorders). PUI was correlated with age and was higher in students as in the general population. Significant associations were found between PUI symptoms and both personality and eating disorders; PUI was also positively correlated with the presence of other addictions (e.g., alcohol and/or substances). A greater proportion of patients with PUI presented other forms of behavioural addiction compared to non-symptomatic patients. Social media and online shopping, as well as video-streaming, resulted to be the main forms of PUI among patients with problematic use of the Internet. Discussion. More studies are required among students diagnosed with eating and personality disorders. The association between PUI and other addictive disorders would support the hypothesis of their common shared pathophysiology. Conclusion. Healthcare providers and educators should be made aware of such risks. More studies are needed to confirm such preliminary findings.
AB - Objective. This study aims to explore the prevalence, characteristics, and psychopathology related to Problematic Use of Internet (PUI), including Internet Addiction (IA), within a sample of psychiatric outpatients. Methods. 143 psychiatric stable outpatients (18-65, mean age: 49; F=84) were included in this study, regardless of their categorical diagnosis. Socio-demographic, clinical, psychopathological, and Internet use-related data (PIU-Scale, Internet Addiction Test, devices, use, activities) were collected across the sample. Results. The prevalence of PUI ranged between 1% (IAT) and 25% (PIU-S), with a homogeneous distribution of PUI symptoms’ severity among the four main psychopathological areas (depressive, bipolar, anxiety, and psychotic disorders). PUI was correlated with age and was higher in students as in the general population. Significant associations were found between PUI symptoms and both personality and eating disorders; PUI was also positively correlated with the presence of other addictions (e.g., alcohol and/or substances). A greater proportion of patients with PUI presented other forms of behavioural addiction compared to non-symptomatic patients. Social media and online shopping, as well as video-streaming, resulted to be the main forms of PUI among patients with problematic use of the Internet. Discussion. More studies are required among students diagnosed with eating and personality disorders. The association between PUI and other addictive disorders would support the hypothesis of their common shared pathophysiology. Conclusion. Healthcare providers and educators should be made aware of such risks. More studies are needed to confirm such preliminary findings.
KW - Behavioural addictions
KW - Internet Addiction
KW - problematic use of Internet
KW - psychiatric outpatients
KW - psychopathology
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85199936569&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1708/4320.43055
DO - 10.1708/4320.43055
M3 - Article
SN - 0035-6484
VL - 59
SP - 147
EP - 156
JO - Rivista di Psichiatria
JF - Rivista di Psichiatria
IS - 4
M1 - 43055
ER -