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

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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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.

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

Conditions
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Addiction

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: STICA Intervention


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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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

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 17 Years
Maximum Age: 55 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Male

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| No Intervention: Wait list control<br> | |
| Experimental: STICA Intervention<br> | Behavioral: STICA Intervention<br>* Manualized Short-term Treatment for Internet and Computer game Addiction (STICA) based on cognitive behavior-therapy (combining individual and group therapy)<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in internet or computer game addiction (self-rating) |  | 4 and 10 months after randomization | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 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 depressive symptoms (changes in BDI-II) |  | 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 Expectances of self-efficacy (Changes in Assessment of Self-Efficacy) |  | 4 and 10 months after randomization | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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internet addiction, computer game addiction, STICA, short-term treatment, psychotherapy, internet and computer game addiction