Department of Human Neuroscience, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy - Psychiatry and Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit, A. Fiorini Hospital, Local Health Department of Latina, Terracina (LT), Italy.
Psychiatry and Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit, A. Fiorini Hospital, Local Health Department of Latina, Terracina (LT), Italy.
Riv Psichiatr. 2024 Jul-Aug;59(4):147-156. doi: 10.1708/4320.43055.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Healthcare providers and educators should be made aware of such risks. More studies are needed to confirm such preliminary findings.
本研究旨在探讨精神科门诊患者中，包括网络成瘾在内的网络使用问题（Problematic Use of Internet，PUI）的流行率、特征和与精神病理学相关的因素。
本研究纳入了 143 名稳定的精神科门诊患者（18-65 岁，平均年龄：49；F=84），无论其诊断类别如何。收集了患者的社会人口统计学、临床、精神病理学和互联网使用相关数据（PIU-Scale、Internet Addiction Test、设备、使用、活动）。
PUI 的患病率在 1%（IAT）和 25%（PIU-S）之间，四种主要精神病理学领域（抑郁、双相、焦虑和精神病性障碍）中 PUI 症状的严重程度分布均匀。PUI 与年龄相关，在学生中比在普通人群中更为常见。PUI 症状与人格和饮食障碍显著相关；PUI 还与其他成瘾（如酒精和/或物质）的存在呈正相关。与无症状患者相比，更多患有 PUI 的患者表现出其他形式的行为成瘾。与互联网问题使用相关的主要形式是社交媒体和在线购物以及视频流。
需要对患有饮食和人格障碍的学生进行更多的研究。PUI 与其他成瘾障碍之间的关联支持了它们共同的病理生理学假说。
医疗保健提供者和教育者应意识到这些风险。需要更多的研究来证实这些初步发现。
