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OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT01434589

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

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.

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Key information

Conditions

Addiction Behavior Behavior, Addictive Compulsive Behavior Impulsive Behavior Internet Addiction Disorder Technology Addiction

Age range

17 year–55 year

Sex eligibility

Male

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

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

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Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

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

Treatment and study plan

STICA Intervention

Behavioral

Manualized Short-term Treatment for Internet and Computer game Addiction (STICA) based on cognitive behavior-therapy (combining individual and group therapy)

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in internet or computer game addiction (self-rating)

    Time frame: 4 and 10 months after randomization

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change/Remission of internet or computer game addiction (expert rating)

    Time frame: 4 and 10 months after randomization

  2. Preoccupation with critical internet applications or computer games (hours per week)

    Time frame: 4 and 10 months after randomization

  3. Improvement of negative consequences (e.g. social communication, psychosocial well being)

    Time frame: 4 and 10 months after randomization

  4. Improvement of depressive symptoms (changes in BDI-II)

    Time frame: 4 and 10 months after randomization

  5. Improvement of social fear and avoidance (changes in Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale)

    Time frame: 4 and 10 months after randomization

  6. Improvement of Expectances of self-efficacy (Changes in Assessment of Self-Efficacy)

    Time frame: 4 and 10 months after randomization

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz

Other

Registry information

Acronym: STICA

Important dates

Study start
2012
Primary completion
2017
Study completion
2017
First posted
Sep 15, 2011
Registry last updated
Oct 11, 2017

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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