School of Psychology, The University of Adelaide, Australia.
Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 2013 Nov;47(11):1058-67. doi: 10.1177/0004867413491159. Epub 2013 May 29.
Although there is growing international recognition of pathological technology use (PTU) in adolescence, there has been a paucity of empirical research conducted in Australia. This study was designed to assess the clinical features of pathological video gaming (PVG) and pathological Internet use (PIU) in a normative Australian adolescent population. A secondary objective was to investigate the axis I comorbidities associated with PIU and video gaming.
A total of 1287 South Australian secondary school students aged 12-18 years were recruited. Participants were assessed using the PTU checklist, Revised Children's Anxiety and Depression Scale, Social Anxiety Scale for Adolescents, revised UCLA Loneliness Scale, and Teenage Inventory of Social Skills. Adolescents who met the criteria for PVG or PIU or both were compared to normal adolescents in terms of axis I comorbidity.
The prevalence rates of PIU and PVG were 6.4% and 1.8%, respectively. A subgroup with co-occurring PIU and PVG was identified (3.3%). The most distinguishing clinical features of PTU were withdrawal, tolerance, lies and secrecy, and conflict. Symptoms of preoccupation, inability to self-limit, and using technology as an escape were commonly reported by adolescents without PTU, and therefore may be less useful as clinical indicators. Depression, panic disorder, and separation anxiety were most prevalent among adolescents with PIU.
PTU among Australian adolescents remains an issue warranting clinical concern. These results suggest an emerging trend towards the greater uptake and use of the Internet among female adolescents, with associated PIU. Although there exists an overlap of PTU disorders, adolescents with PIU appear to be at greater risk of axis I comorbidity than adolescents with PVG alone. Further research with an emphasis on validation techniques, such as verified identification of harm, may enable an informed consensus on the definition and diagnosis of PTU.
尽管国际上对青少年病理性技术使用（PTU）的认识不断提高，但澳大利亚对此类问题的实证研究却很少。本研究旨在评估病理性视频游戏（PVG）和病理性互联网使用（PIU）在澳大利亚正常青少年人群中的临床特征。次要目的是调查与 PIU 和视频游戏相关的轴 I 共病。
共招募了 1287 名来自南澳大利亚州的 12-18 岁的中学生。参与者使用病理性技术使用检查表、修订后的儿童焦虑和抑郁量表、青少年社交焦虑量表、修订后的加州大学洛杉矶分校孤独量表和青少年社交技能量表进行评估。符合 PVG 或 PIU 或两者标准的青少年与正常青少年在轴 I 共病方面进行了比较。
PIU 和 PVG 的患病率分别为 6.4%和 1.8%。确定了一个同时存在 PIU 和 PVG 的亚组（3.3%）。PTU 最显著的临床特征是戒断、耐受、谎言和秘密、以及冲突。沉迷、无法自我限制、以及将技术作为逃避手段等症状在没有 PTU 的青少年中也经常出现，因此这些症状作为临床指标可能不太有用。患有 PIU 的青少年中，抑郁、惊恐障碍和分离焦虑症最为常见。
澳大利亚青少年的 PTU 仍然是一个值得关注的问题。这些结果表明，女性青少年对互联网的使用呈上升趋势，且与 PIU 有关。尽管存在 PTU 障碍的重叠，但与仅患有 PVG 的青少年相比，患有 PIU 的青少年似乎更容易出现轴 I 共病。进一步的研究强调验证技术，如验证伤害的识别，可能会就 PTU 的定义和诊断达成共识。
