Case report for an internet- and mobile-based intervention for internet use disorder

Karina Bernstein; Anna-Carlotta Zarski; Emilia Pekarek; Michael Patrick Schaub; Matthias Berking; Harald Baumeister; David Daniel Ebert

doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2023.700520

Case report for an internet- and mobile-based intervention for internet use disorder

Front Psychiatry. 2023 Jul 25:14:700520. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.700520. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Karina Bernstein¹, Anna-Carlotta Zarski^{1

2}, Emilia Pekarek¹, Michael Patrick Schaub³, Matthias Berking¹, Harald Baumeister⁴, David Daniel Ebert⁵

Affiliations

¹ Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.
² eHealth in Clinical Psychology, Philipps-University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany.
³ Swiss Research Institute for Public Health and Addiction, Associated to the University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland.
⁴ Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany.
⁵ Department of Clinical, Neuro, and Developmental Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Abstract

Background and aims: Internet use disorder (IUD), characterized as the inability to control one's internet use, is associated with reduced quality of life and mental health comorbidities such as depression, substance abuse, or anxiety. Evidence-based treatment options are scarce due to the novelty of the diagnosis. Internet- and mobile-based interventions (IMI) may be an effective means to deliver psychological treatment to individuals with IUD as they address affected individuals in their online setting. This study presents a newly developed IMI for IUD disclosing treatment satisfaction and preliminary effects by exemplifying with a case report.

Methods: The case of a female participant with IUD, characterized by an excessive use of social media, is analyzed. The case report follows the CARE guidelines and presents qualitative and quantitative outcomes regarding potential symptom reduction measured by the Internet Addiction Test (IAT) and Compulsive Internet Use Scale (CIUS), treatment satisfaction measured by the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ) and feasibility by analyzing participant's written feedback during treatment.

Results: The case report shows that internet- and mobile-based interventions may be feasible in supporting an individual in reducing symptoms of IUD as well as depressive symptoms, anxiety and procrastination behavior. Treatment satisfaction was reported as good.

Discussion and conclusions: This case report illustrates that IMIs can have the potential to be an easily accessible and possibly effective treatment option for IUD. Case studies on IMIs may provide insights into important mechanisms for symptom change. Further studies are needed to expand our understanding of this diverse disorder to provide adequate treatment.

Clinical trial registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov/,DRKS00015314.

Keywords: case report; internet use disorder; internet- and mobile-based intervention; social media use; student.