청소년의 인터넷 중독 정도에 따른 정신과적 공존질환 및 행동 양상에 관한 연구

Psychiatric Comorbidities and Behavioral Patterns in Relation to Internet Addiction Severity in Adolescents

Objectives：This study aimed to clarify the differences in psychiatric comorbidities and, behavioral patterns correlating with the severity of Internet addiction in adolescents. Methods：We assessed 321 adolescents recruited from an Internet rescue school, psychiatric outpatients, and 4 schools in Seoul and Gyeonggido. We divided them into a non-addicted group, a potential-risk group, and a high-risk group according to Young’s Internet Addiction Test (IAT). We evaluated their psychiatric comorbidities and behavioral patterns via psychiatric clinical interview, the Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and a self-report questionnaire about behavioral pat-terns. Results：There were significant differences in CDI and STAI scores among the 3 groups. The IAT, CDI, and STAI scores correlated positively with each other. There were differences in psychiatric comorbidity distributions between the potential-risk and high-risk groups, but only “other mood disorder” showed a significant difference. There were also significant differences in behavioral patterns among the 3 groups. Conclusion：This study suggests that there are psychiatric comorbidity and behavioral pat-tern differences according to Internet addiction severity in adolescents. We expect further studies will reveal more profound understandings of these relationships.