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Heroin Addiction and Related Clinical Problems: 2020, 22, N4 (pages: 39 - 47)

The Psychopathology Specific to Substance Use Disorder Is Able to Discriminate between Young People with and without Problematic Internet Use

Maremmani A.G.I., Cerniglia L., Cimino S., Maiello M., Della Rocca F., and Maremmani I.

Summary: Background: Problematic Internet use (PIU), which may otherwise be called excessive Internet use, is distinguished by excessive or poorly controlled preoccupations, urges, or behaviours regarding computer use and internet access; and shows high comorbidity associated with psychiatric disorders. In previous studies, our Research Group highlighted five psychopathological dimensions that appear to be specific to SUD (1-Worthlessness-Being Trapped; 2-Somatic Symptoms; 3-Sensitivity-Psychoticism; 4-Panic Anxiety and 5-Violence-Suicide). Methods: We have investigated the association between PIU and the specific psychopathology of SUD, as assessed by SCL-90, in 493 young people 16.35±0.9 years old (min 15, max 21). Of these, 244 (49.5%) were males and 249 (50.5%) females. We divided the sample according to the cut-off (15 scores) of the Problematic Internet Use Questionnaire Short Form (PIUQ-SF-6) in 411 (83.4%) without and 82 (16.6%) with problematic use. We used the discriminant analysis with the SCL-90 five dimensions we found in SUD patients to differentiate these two groups. Results: The groups were homogenous regarding age (F=0.14; p=0.989) and gender (chi=0.01 p=0.920). We found no difference between males and females according to the subject's age, the SCL-90 total score and the severity of PIU. The psychopathology specific to SUD discriminated (p<0.001) between subjects with and without problematic use of the Internet at 98.2%. The subjects with PIU were marked out by the high severity of the Panic Anxiety and Somatic Symptoms dimensions. They more frequently showed Panic Anxiety and, less frequently, Sensitivity-Psychoticism as their predominant psychopathological typology. Conclusions: Our five psychopathological dimensions made it possible to differentiate between young people with and without PIU, so allowing these dimensions to be considered a newly available tool in monitoring Internet use in youngsters.