The addiction to the internet and computer/video games is becoming a growing mental health concern, especially among adolescents and young adults. Manualized cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), along with short-term treatment for internet and computer game addiction (STICA), is considered an effective treatment for individuals suffering from internet or computer game addiction. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of CBT-STICA for internet and computer game addiction.
This multicenter randomized clinical trial included a total of 143 men (mean age 26.2 years) experiencing internet and computer game addiction. Self-reported internet addiction symptoms and psychological functioning were considered. The participants were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive STICA (n=72) or no treatment (n=71). The primary objective of this study was the Assessment of Internet and Computer Game Addiction Self-report (AICA-S).
Fifty of 72 men (69.4%) in the STICA group showed remission compared with 17 of 71 men (23.9%) in the control group. Logistic regression analysis suggested that the remission in STICA was higher compared with the control group (Odds ratio 10.10).
The research concluded that cognitive-behavioral therapy using STICA was effective and showed positive outcomes in individuals suffering from internet and computer game addiction.
Ref: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2737418?resultClick=1
