Media use and Internet addiction in adult depression: A case-control study

The present case-control study explored tendencies of Internet addiction in a group of depressive patients compared with a control group of healthy persons. Standardized questionnaires were used to assess the extent of Internet addiction (ISS), depression symptoms (BDI), impulsivity (BIS) and global psychological stress (SCL-90R). Depressive patients with and without Internet addiction were compared regarding depression severity and psychological stress. In addition, predictors of Internet addiction in depressive patients were investigated. The results presented significantly higher tendencies for Internet addiction in the group of depressive patients. The prevalence of Internet addiction in this group was considerably high (36%). In addition, depressive patients with Internet addiction showed consistently but insignificantly higher symptom severity and psychological stress compared with patients without Internet addiction. Both groups of depressive patients were significantly higher burdened with depressive symptoms and psychological stress than the healthy controls. Low age and male sex were particularly important predictors of Internet addiction in the group of depressive patients. The results are in accordance with previously published findings in other fields of addiction disorders. Co-occurrence of depression and Internet addiction should be noted and considered in psychiatric treatment.