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Screening Tools for Technological Addictions: A Proposal for the Strategy of Mental Health

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Abstract

The emergence of addictive problems associated with the development of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) is a challenge for mental health in modern societies. For this reason, the Spanish Mental Health Strategy, currently in project, includes the problem of “emerging addictions” in young people, in the 14 mental health topics to be analysed. The main objective of this research was to develop three screening tools that can be used by health staff (e.g., psychologists, physicians) to better link early detection with early intervention in the field of technological addictions. In this paper, three kind of technological addictions were selected: Internet/social networks, mobile and video games. Two groups of participants were selected for each technology: a) users of Internet/social network, mobile or video games without psychological problems due to the use of these technologies, and b) people who sought counselling or advice for their addictive problems with some of these technologies. Three screening tools for each technological addiction (Internet/social network, mobile and video games) were developed. These tools consist on the two items of each of the tests which have the highest Positive Predictive Values (PPV) to differentiate between the non-problematic users of technologies and those who have an addictive problem with Internet, mobile or video games. This article shows three screening tools that can be used by health or clinical staff, in the case that the professional supposes that the patient has an addictive problem with any of the three technologies. Then, the screening procedure should be implemented. If the diagnostic of addiction is confirmed, the patient should be treated with psychological treatment based in evidence. Some advices are also proposed for those who do not need any specialized intervention for addiction.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Psychology School, University of Valencia, Avda. Blasco Ibáñez, 21, 46010, Valencia, Spain

    Mariano Chóliz

  2. Psychology School, University of Basque Country, San Sebastián, Spain

    Enrique Echeburúa

  3. Provincial Institute of Psychiatry, Madrid, Spain

    Francisco Ferre

Authors
  1. Mariano Chóliz
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  2. Enrique Echeburúa
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  3. Francisco Ferre
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mariano Chóliz.

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Conflict of Interest

Mariano Chóliz, Enrique Echeburúa and Francisco Ferre declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Informed Consent

All participants took part voluntarily and were informed about the objectives of the study.

Ethical Approval

This study was approved by the Spanish Ministry of Health.

Conflict of Interest

Mariano Chóliz, Enrique Echeburúa and Francisco Ferre declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Chóliz, M., Echeburúa, E. & Ferre, F. Screening Tools for Technological Addictions: A Proposal for the Strategy of Mental Health. Int J Ment Health Addiction 15, 423–433 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-017-9743-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-017-9743-1

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