Effects of a Manualized Short-term Treatment of Internet and Computer Game Addiction

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Addiction
• Interventions: Behavioral: STICA Intervention

• Registration Number: NCT01434589
• Lead Sponsor: Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to 1) determine the efficacy of manualized Short-term Treatment of Internet and Computer game Addiction (STICA), assess 2) the durability of treatment response in these patients and 3) the impact on associated psychiatric symptoms, e.g. social anxiety and depression.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2011-09-08
• Study First Submitted QC: 2011-09-14
• Study First Posted: 2011-09-15
• Study Start: 2012-01
• Primary Completion: 2017-06
• Study Completion: 2017-08
• Status Verified: 2017-10
• Last Update Submitted: 2017-10-10
• Last Update Posted: 2017-10-11

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: Male
• Target Recruitment: 187

Inclusion Criteria

• clinical diagnosis of internet or computer game addiction
• internet or computer game addiction according to the AICA-Checklist(Assessment of Internet and Computer game addiction, expert Rating)
• a score >/= 7 in the AICA-S (Assessment of Internet and Computer game addiction, Self Rating)
• patients with primary diagnoses of internet or computer game addiction
• if currently on psychotropic medications, no change in medications and dosages in the past 2 months and during STICA treatment
• if currently off all psychotropic medications, patient has been off at least 4 weeks
• at least 4 weeks off from last psychotherapy and no other ongoing psychotherapy

Exclusion Criteria

• current Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) < 40
• severe major depression (BDI-II Score >/= 29)
• current alcohol or drug addictions
• personality disorders: borderline, antisocial, schizoid and schizotypal
• lifetime diagnoses of schizophrenia, schizoaffective, bipolar or organic mental disorder
• current unstable medical illness

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
STICA Intervention	STICA Intervention	-

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in internet or computer game addiction (self-rating)	4 and 10 months after randomization

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change/Remission of internet or computer game addiction (expert rating)	4 and 10 months after randomization
Preoccupation with critical internet applications or computer games (hours per week)	4 and 10 months after randomization
Improvement of negative consequences (e.g. social communication, psychosocial well being)	4 and 10 months after randomization
Improvement of social fear and avoidance (changes in Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale)	4 and 10 months after randomization
Improvement of depressive symptoms (changes in BDI-II)	4 and 10 months after randomization
Improvement of Expectances of self-efficacy (Changes in Assessment of Self-Efficacy)	4 and 10 months after randomization

Trial Locations

Locations (4)

University Medical Center Mainz, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Outpatient clinic for behavioral addictions; 🇩🇪 Mainz, Germany

Central Insitute for Mental Health; 🇩🇪 Mannheim, Germany

University Medical Center Tübingen; 🇩🇪 Tübingen, Germany

Anton Proksch Insitut, Therapy Centre for the Treatment of Addictions; 🇦🇹 Vienna, Austria