Effectiveness of a web-based group intervention for internet addiction in university students.

The phenomenon of Internet addiction has been systematically addressed with numerous studies highlighting its association with deficits in self-regulation. Despite the extensive literature elucidating the adverse effects of Internet addiction on university students, the availability of relevant interventions has remained constrained. The current study aimed at evaluating a web-based, group intervention, which aimed to prevent Internet addiction and enhance self-regulation. The sample consisted of 47 undergraduate and postgraduate university students (Ν = 47, Mage=21, SD = 3), who were divided into an intervention (n = 24) and a control group (n = 23). The participants were asked to complete a) the Internet Addiction Test (Young, 1998), and b) the Self-Regulation Questionnaire (Brown et al., 1999), prior to the commencement of the intervention, after its conclusion, and one and a half months after the intervention. The web-based intervention consisted of 6 sessions, over a two-week period. Results indicated an improvement of self-regulation and Internet addiction levels for the intervention group, compared to the control group. These results were maintained at the one and a half months follow-up. Implications for designing and implementing web-based group interventions for Internet addiction are discussed.

A Systematic Review on Intervention Treatment in Pathological Gambling.

Over the last century, there has been a growing interest in researching pathological gambling, particularly in industrialized nations. Historically, gambling was widely perceived as morally questionable, condemned by religious groups. However, contemporary concerns have shifted towards the health repercussions of gambling disorders and broader societal impacts like increased crime and money laundering. Governments, aiming to mitigate social harm, often regulate or directly oversee gambling activities. The global surge in legal gambling has resulted in a substantial rise in its prevalence, popularity, and accessibility in the last two decades. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of global research on interventions for pathological gambling. Through a systematic search on platforms such as EBSCO, PubMed, and Web of Science, 13 relevant records were identified. The revised findings indicate a heightened occurrence of behavioral addictions, linking them to the early onset of gambling issues and their severe consequences. The research emphasizes the active role that clients play in the process of self-directed change and therapy. Therapists recognizing clients as both catalysts for change and potential obstacles can enhance their effectiveness. A common source of resistance arises when clients and therapists are in different stages of the change process, underlining the importance of therapists aligning with clients' readiness for change. Recognizing the urgent need for a better understanding of this problem in adolescents, this study emphasizes the necessity to tailor prevention and treatment plans based on gender and age-specific requirements.

Symptoms and functional impairments in patients with Internet Use Disorders participating in an online short-term therapy.

BACKGROUND: Internet use disorders (IUD) have been recognized as a serious mental health concern. In order to promote consensus on core features of IUD, further studies involving clinical samples are required. AIMS: A clinical evaluation of patients with IUD was conducted as part of the scientific monitoring of a novel online short-term therapy, embedded in the randomized controlled trial Stepped Care Approach for Problematic Internet use Treatment (SCAPIT; ID: DRKS00025994). METHODS: An online diagnostic and a clinical assessment were performed at the baseline measurement of the online intervention. The self-report version of the Assessment of Internet and Computer Game Addiction (AICA-S) was applied to assess symptom severity of IUD. The impact of psychopathological symptoms and impairments of functioning on IUD symptomatology was examined in the sample of patients. Based on a dichotomous classification of the symptom severity of IUD, differences among participants presenting moderate compared to severe addictive Internet behavior were analyzed. RESULTS: The sample of this an analysis consisted of 57 patients (57.9% males, mean age of 29.12 years) participating in the online short-term therapy for IUD. Based on the AICA-S sum score (M = 11.60; SD = 3.30) participants exhibited moderate (n = 44; 77.2%) to severe (n = 13; 22.8%) symptoms of addictive Internet use. Psychopathological symptoms and impairments of psychosocial functioning had an effect on symptom severity of IUD. Participants with severe symptoms of IUD showed higher psychopathological strains compared to patients with moderate addictive Internet behavior. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical evaluation of patients participating in a novel online short-term therapy for IUD indicated that psychopathological symptoms and impairments of functioning have an impact on addictive Internet behaviors and consequently, need to be addressed in the treatment of IUD. Based on the results, further implications for clinical practice and research on addictive Internet behavior are derived.

Designing observational studies for credible causal inference in addiction research-Directed acyclic graphs, modified disjunctive cause criterion and target trial emulation.

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are considered the gold standard for causal inference. With a sufficient sample size, randomization removes confounding up to the time of randomization and allows the treatment effect to be isolated. However, RCTs may have limited generalizability and transportability and are often not feasible in addiction research due to ethical or logistical constraints. The importance of observational studies from real-world settings has been increasingly recognized in research on health. This paper provides an overview of modern approaches to designing observational studies that enable causal inference. It illustrates three key techniques, Directed Acyclic Graphs (DAGs), modified Disjunctive Cause Criterion and Target Trial Emulation, and discusses the strengths and limitations of their applications.

Reality check. The issue of social plausibility in Virtual reality therapy with addiction patients.

In France, virtual reality has been experimented since 2016 to address addictive behaviors. The existing literature insists on the "immersive" dimension of the technology as a significant factor in the efficacy of exposure. An ethnographic approach, however, suggests that the realism criterion should be reassessed. Based on a fieldwork conducted in the addictology department of a French hospital that made use of Virtual reality therapy (VRT), the article shows that it is a form of technical reiteration designed to develop reflexivity about one's actions, provoking the craving so that it can be domesticated. The patient's engagement in "as if" mode is facilitated by the therapist's work in mapping the patient's addictive practices, personalizing the exposure situations, and elaborating the simulation as being part of a practical experiment. While the question of graphic realism does not seem especially problematic, the question of social plausibility can put the simulation operation under strain.

[Eating disorders in the light of addiction]. / Troubles du comportement alimentaire à l'aune de l'addiction.

Eating disorders (ED) are complex and damaging to health. They cause suffering similar to that of addictions. Although they share some similarities, eating disorders remain distinct from addictions. Fundamental differences emerge in binge eating and restrictive behaviors. Eating disorder treatment in adolescents relies mainly on family therapy and can incorporate a reflection on these similarities and differences. For instance, understanding the addictive nature of the illness helps parents and patients to avoid sterile negotiations around food. An individualized approach is crucial to the effective management of ED by a specialized multidisciplinary team. Clarity in explaining physiological mechanisms strengthens the therapeutic alliance.

Les troubles du comportement alimentaire (TCA) sont complexes et portent atteinte à la santé. Ils peuvent engendrer des souffrances similaires à celles des addictions. Bien qu'ils partagent des similitudes, les TCA demeurent distincts des addictions. Des différences fondamentales émergent dans les comportements d'hyperphagie et de restriction. La prise en charge des TCA, axée sur la thérapie familiale, peut intégrer une réflexion sur ces similitudes et ces différences. Par exemple, la compréhension de la nature addictive de la maladie aide parents et patients à éviter des négociations stériles autour de l'alimentation. Une approche individualisée est cruciale pour une prise en charge efficace des TCA par une équipe multidisciplinaire spécialisée. La clarté dans l'explication des mécanismes physiologiques renforce l'alliance thérapeutique.

Driving innovation in addiction treatment: role of transcranial magnetic stimulation.

Addictions comprises heterogenous psychiatric conditions caused by the complex interaction of genetic, neurobiological, psychological, and environmental factors with a chronic relapsing-remitting pattern. Despite the long-standing efforts of preclinical and clinical research studies, addiction field has seen relatively slow progress when it comes to the development of new therapeutic interventions, most of which failed to demonstrate a significant efficacy. This is likely due to the very complex interplay of many factors that contribute to both the development and expression of addictions. The imbalance between the salience and the reward brain network circuitry has been proposed as the neurobiological mechanisms explaining the pathognomonic symptoms of addictions.Non-invasive neuromodulation techniques have been proposed as a promising therapeutic intervention to restore these brain circuits dysfunctions. Here, we propose a multi-level strategy to innovate the diagnosis and the treatment of addictive disorders.

Neurofeedback for alcohol addiction: Changes in resting state network activity✰.

Alcohol dependence continues to be a major global burden despite significant research progress and treatment development. The aim of this study was to investigate whether neurofeedback training can alter resting state fMRI activity in brain regions that play a crucial role in addiction disorders in patients with alcohol dependence. For this purpose, a total of 52 patients were recruited for the present study, randomized, and divided into an active and a sham group. Patients in the active group received three sessions of neurofeedback training. We compared the resting state data in the active group as part of the NF training on six measurement days. When comparing the results of the active group from neurofeedback day 3 with baseline 1, a significant reduction in activated voxels in the ventral attention network area was seen. This suggests that reduced activity over the course of therapy in subjects may lead to greater independence from external stimuli. Overall, a global decrease in activated voxels within all three analysed networks compared to baseline was observed in the study. The use of resting-state data as potential biomarkers, as activity changes within these networks, may be to help restore cognitive processes and alcohol abuse-related craving and emotions.

Commentary: Similarities and Differences Between Harm-Reduction and Substitute Addiction-- Implications for the Health Professions.

"Substitute addiction" refers to the process of achieving abstinence or resolution of one addictive behavior and subsequently engaging in one or more additional addictive behaviors in its place. Substitute addiction, a concept in the abstinence-based recovery field for decades, is viewed as a cause for concern because resolving one addictive behavior might not fully remove harm or ensure recovery. Conversely, "harm-reduction treatment" refers to a counseling orientation that focuses on helping service users reduce substance-related harm and improve their quality of life without necessarily requiring abstinence or use reduction. Harm-reduction treatment assesses a constellation of addictive behaviors in the larger context of a person's life to holistically reduce harm in that constellation. In this commentary, we define and compare both constructs and point out their implications for addictions treatment.

Treatment effects of therapeutic interventions for gaming disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

The prevalence of gaming disorder is assumed to be between 2%-5%. The treatment effect of different therapeutic interventions of gaming disorder has not been studied extensively. This systematic review and meta-analysis sought to identify all intervention studies on gaming disorder with a control group, determine the effect of the interventions, and examine moderators. Studies applying a therapeutic intervention and using an appropriate comparison group were identified by searching electronic databases, previous reviews, and reference lists. Data on type of treatment, name of outcome measurement, symptom level and other study characteristics were extracted and analyzed using meta-analysis and meta-regression. A total of 38 studies and 76 effect sizes, originating from 9524 participants were included. RoB2 and ROBINS-I risk of bias tools were used to assess within-study risk of bias. Correlational hierarchical models with robust variance estimation were fitted to effect size data and yielded a moderate summary estimate. Egger's sandwich test, funnel plot inspections, and other tests were conducted to assess risk of bias between studies. Results indicate that there may be an overall effect of therapeutic interventions for gaming disorder, but confidence in these findings is compromised by small-study effects, possible publication bias, a limited study pool, and a lack of standardization. The field needs more higher quality studies before the evidence-base can support reliable meta-analytic estimates.

Effects of different interventions on internet addiction: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Globally, Internet is a recognized form of leisure, but there are growing apprehensions about the increasing number of individuals developing an addiction to it. Recent research has focused on social issues associated with internet addiction (IA). However, the treatment of IA is currently unclear. This study aimed to explore the relationship between IA treatment outcomes and different intervention strategies through systematic review and data analysis of patients who received different intervention modes. METHODS: A meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan 5.4 and Stata 14.2 on 57 literature research data from five Chinese and English databases, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Wanfang and CNKI. RESULT: A total of 57 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included in this network meta-analysis involving 3538 IA patients and 13 different interventions. The network meta-analysis results demonstrated that the top four interventions were: rTMS + CBT, drug + others, rTMS, and electro-acupuncture + CBT. CONCLUSION: Our study indicated that comprehensive therapy had an optimal therapeutic effect on IA patients and rTMS + CBT ranked first among all therapeutic indicators of intervention, indicating optimal clinical effectiveness.

Transcranial Electrical Neurostimulation as a Potential Addiction Treatment.

Addiction remains difficult to treat, but non-invasive transcranial electrical and magnetic neurostimulation methods may provide promising and cost-effective treatment approaches. We provide a narrative review of recent developments and evidence of effectiveness and consider newer technology that may yield improved treatment approaches. In particular, we review temporal interference electrical neurostimulation, which allows non-invasive and focal stimulation of deep brain regions. This provides a promising new potential approach to treat addiction, because many of the brain regions that seem most important for addiction are deeper in the brain, out of reach of existing technologies such as transcranial direct current stimulation.

Heterogeneity of gaming disorder: A clinically-based typology for developing personalized interventions.

Background: The eleventh revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) defines the three key diagnostic criteria for gaming disorder (GD). These are loss of control over gaming, gaming as a priority over daily activities, and impaired functioning due to gaming. While this definition has implications for the prevention and treatment of GD, there is significant heterogeneity in the symptoms and etiology of GD among individuals, which results in different treatment needs. Cognitive control, emotional regulation, and reward sensitivity are three critical dimensions in the etiology model for GD. Aspects such as gender, comorbidity, motivation for gaming, stage or severity of GD, and risk factors all contribute to the heterogeneity of etiology among individuals with the disorder. Method: On the basis of clinical symptoms and comorbidity characteristics among approximately 400 patients with gaming disorder, the present paper proposes a clinical typology of patients with GD based on the authors' clinical experience in treating individuals with GD. Results: The findings indicated three common types of patients with GD: (i) impulsive male patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), (ii) dysphoria patients with dysfunctional coping skills, and (iii) isolated patients with social anxiety. The paper also discusses the presentation and treatment priority for these patients. Conclusion: Personalized treatments for patients with GD should be developed to fit their individual needs. Future studies should examine the heterogeneity of GD and confirm these types, as well as obtain evidence-based information that can help in the development of personalized treatment. Treatment resources should be developed, and professionals should be trained to provide integrated individualized treatment.

Mindfulness interventions for craving reduction in substance use disorders and behavioral addictions: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: High-quality evidence is still required to affirm the efficacy of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) in craving reduction. MBIs may be particularly appropriate for this purpose given the neurobiological mechanisms of addiction with automatic behavior in response to the negative affect. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we aimed to study the efficacy of MBIs in craving reduction and to synthetize the newly published data. METHODS: We searched four databases and three clinical trial registries for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) up to August 2023, including studies with MBIs in all types of substance use disorders or behavioral addictions. We chose as our outcome of interest the change from the baseline of craving measures at posttreatment. Standardized mean difference was used as an effect size estimator. RESULTS: We included 17 RCTs with 1228 participants. The overall effect size was estimated at -0.70 (95% CI -1.15, -0.26) in favor of MBIs. CONCLUSION: Due to the high inconsistency (I2 = 92%), we were unable to conclude that there is a medium to large effect size. Overall risk of bias was high for most studies, and the GRADE approach detected a low quality of evidence. Previous clinical and fundamental research suggest that MBIs have a promising potential in addiction medicine. However, further investigation of whether MBIs effectively reduce craving is needed, and innovative solutions for resolving methodological limitations in MBI research are warranted. TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO registration ID CRD42020221141.

Be more mindful: Targeting addictive responses by integrating mindfulness with cognitive bias modification or cue exposure interventions.

This review provides an overview of the most prominent neurocognitive effects of cognitive bias modification (CBM), cue-exposure therapy and mindfulness interventions for targeting addictive responses. It highlights the key insights that have stemmed from cognitive neuroscience and brain imaging research and combines these with insights from behavioural science in building a conceptual model integrating mindfulness with response-focused CBM or cue-exposure interventions. This furthers our understanding of whether and how mindfulness strategies may i) facilitate or add to the induced response-focused effects decreasing cue-induced craving, and ii) further weaken the link between craving and addictive responses. Specifically, awareness/monitoring may facilitate, and decentering may add to, response-focused effects. Combined awareness acceptance strategies may also diminish the craving-addiction link. The conceptual model presented in this review provides a specific theoretical framework to deepen our understanding of how mindfulness strategies and CBM or cue-exposure interventions can be combined to greatest effect. This is important in both suggesting a roadmap for future research, and for the further development of clinical interventions.

[Expert consensus on digital therapeutics for addictive disorders].

Digital Therapeutics is now being utilized in the assessment, treatment, and management of various addictive disorders. As an emerging medical technology that integrates multidisciplinary approaches, there is currently a lack of consensus on clinical, research, and application aspects. By summarizing and discussing the current research and application status of digital therapy for addiction disorders, this consensus preliminarily determines medical value, potential applications, and research and development principles. Digital Therapeutics for addictive disorders is effective in various aspects such as prevention, assessment, and treatment and can be used independently or in combination. The core content prioritizes psychological and behavioral therapies with strong evidence-based medical evidence. Development standards need to be improved, and the technical risks associated with digital therapies should be considered. This consensus aims to provide reference for health care, research and development institutions, in order to promote the healthy and efficient development of digital therapy for addictive disorders.

Neural mechanisms linked to treatment outcomes and recovery in substance-related and addictive disorders.

The present review focuses on potential neural mechanisms underlying recovery from psychiatric conditions characterised by impaired impulse control, specifically substance use disorders, gambling disorder, and internet gaming disorder. Existing treatments (both pharmacological and psychological) for these addictions may impact brain processes, and these have been evaluated in neuroimaging studies. Medication challenge and short-term intervention administration will be considered with respect to treatment utility. Main models of addiction (e.g., dual process, reward deficiency syndrome) will be considered in the context of extant data. Additionally, advanced analytic approaches (e.g., machine-learning approaches) will be considered with respect to guiding treatment development efforts. Thus, this narrative review aims to provide directions for treatment development for addictive disorders.

Addiction substitution and concurrent recovery in gambling disorder: Who substitutes and why?

Objectives: When individuals recover from gambling disorder, their involvement in other potentially addictive substances and behaviors may also subsequently increase (substitution) or decrease (concurrent recovery). The objectives of this study were to identify and compare recovery processes associated with substitution and concurrent recovery in gambling disorder. Methods: A mixed-method study was conducted with 185 people who were recovered from gambling disorder. Semi-structured interviews were used to: (i) establish onset and recovery of gambling disorder as well as other substance and behavioral addictions; and (ii) assess processes (e.g., reasons, emotional state, helpfulness) associated with addiction substitution and concurrent recovery. Participants also completed a survey assessing demographic characteristics, gambling behaviors, and psychological characteristics to compare demographic and clinical differences between participants who engaged in addiction substitution, concurrent recovery, or neither (controls). Results: The most frequently reported reason for engaging in addiction substitution was as a substitute coping mechanism. The most reported reason for engaging in concurrent recovery was due to the addictions being mutually influenced. Negative emotional states were common when engaging in both addiction substitution and concurrent recovery. Although the three groups did not differ on gambling characteristics, addiction substitution was associated with greater underlying vulnerabilities including childhood adversity, impulsivity, emotion dysregulation, and, maladaptive coping skills. Conclusion: Transdiagnostic treatments that target the underlying mechanisms of addictions may reduce the likelihood of engaging in addiction substitution.

Addiction: A treatise from 1561.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: In 1561, physician and philosopher Pascasius Justus Turq published a monograph on the description and treatment of pathological gambling. When the monograph came to the attention of the authors in 2006, there existed no known translation of it in any modern language. In 2014, it was translated and published in French. This paper analyses the monograph's key content elements and its place in the history of the concept of addiction. METHODS: A contextual analysis of the late Italian Renaissance, followed by key excerpts from the text and commentaries on the meaning and significance of the monograph. FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS: Pascasius Justus Turq's 1561 monograph on pathological gambling outlines a disease view of gambling, identifies cognitive processes and biological vulnerabilities as aetiological factors, avoids religious or moral judgements and recommends cognitive treatment to change the beliefs and expectancies of gamblers. This study shows that a 'disease formulation' of addiction was enunciated as early as the 16th century, and its contemporary resonance suggests that current clinical features of addictive disorders have existed for centuries.

The Role of Food Addiction and Lifetime Substance Use on Eating Disorder Treatment Outcomes.

Food addiction (FA) and substance use (SU) in eating disorders (ED) have been associated with a more dysfunctional clinical and psychopathological profile. However, their impact on treatment outcomes has been poorly explored. Therefore, this transdiagnostic study is aimed at examining whether the presence of FA and/or SU is associated with treatment outcomes in patients with different ED types. The results were not able to reveal significant differences in treatment outcomes between patients with and without FA and/or SU; however, the effect sizes suggest higher dropout rates in the group with both FA and SU. The predictive models of treatment outcomes showed different features associated with each group. High persistence (i.e., tendency to perseverance and inflexibility) was the personality trait most associated with poor treatment outcomes in patients without addictions. High harm avoidance and younger age at ED onset were the variables most related to poor outcomes in patients with FA or SU. Finally, in the group with both addictive behaviors (FA and SU), the younger patients presented the poorest outcomes. In conclusion, our results suggest that, regardless of presenting addictive behaviors, patients with ED may similarly benefit from treatment. However, it may be important to consider the differential predictors of each group that might guide certain treatment targets.