Efficacy of Methylphenidate for Internet Gaming Disorder and Internet Addiction in Patients with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder


Cite item

Full Text

Abstract

Background:Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) and Internet Addiction (IA) are related clinical conditions often comorbid with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

Objective:We evaluated the efficacy of MPH for IGD/IA symptoms in ADHD patients.

Methods:We enrolled 38 drug-naive patients diagnosed with ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) and IGD/IA. At baseline, all patients underwent a clinical assessment for IGD/IA symptoms and then received the most appropriate therapy according to their clinical profile. Twenty-one patients received MPH (methylphenidate) treatment, and 17 patients did not. Patients were re-evaluated after three months of treatment.

Results:Findings revealed significant reductions in IGD/IA symptoms over time, while no significant effect of MPH on symptom reduction was found. Clinical predictors of symptom reduction were identified, including IQ (Intelligence Quotient) and comorbid anxiety.

Conclusion:This longitudinal prospective study contributes to the understanding of IGD/IA treatment in ADHD patients and highlights the importance of considering individual clinical characteristics when predicting treatment response. However, MPH may not directly impact IGD/IA symptom reduction.

About the authors

Andrea Salvati

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Neuroscience Department, IRCCS Children’s Hospital A. Meyer, University of Florence,

Email: info@benthamscience.net

Gianluca Sesso

, IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation Hospital, Scientific Institute of Child Neurology and Psychiatry

Author for correspondence.
Email: info@benthamscience.net

Francesca Lenzi

, IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation Hospital, Scientific Institute of Child Neurology and Psychiatry

Email: info@benthamscience.net

Gabriele Masi

, IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation Hospital, Scientific Institute of Child Neurology and Psychiatry

Email: info@benthamscience.net

Stefano Berloffa

, IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation Hospital, Scientific Institute of Child Neurology and Psychiatry

Email: info@benthamscience.net

References

  1. Griffiths M. A ‘components’ model of addiction within a biopsychosocial framework. J Subst Use 2005; 10(4): 191-7. doi: 10.1080/14659890500114359
  2. Kuss DJ, Shorter GW, van Rooij AJ, Griffiths MD, Schoenmakers TM. Assessing internet addiction using the parsimonious internet addiction components model-A preliminary study. Int J Ment Health Addict 2014; 12: 351-66. doi: 10.1007/s11469-013-9459-9
  3. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, DSM-5. (5th ed.), American Psychiatric Association 2013.
  4. Wang CY, Wu YC, Su CH, Lin PC, Ko CH, Yen JY. Association between Internet gaming disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. J Behav Addict 2017; 6(4): 564-71. doi: 10.1556/2006.6.2017.088 PMID: 29280398
  5. Kato TA, Shinfuku N, Tateno M. Internet society, internet addiction, and pathological social withdrawal: The chicken and egg dilemma for internet addiction and hikikomori. Curr Opin Psychiatry 2020; 33(3): 264-70. doi: 10.1097/YCO.0000000000000601 PMID: 32101902
  6. Gunes H, Tanidir C, Adaletli H, et al. Oppositional defiant disorder/conduct disorder co-occurrence increases the risk of Internet addiction in adolescents with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. J Behav Addict 2018; 7(2): 284-91. doi: 10.1556/2006.7.2018.46 PMID: 29865863
  7. González-Bueso V, Santamaría J, Fernández D, Merino L, Montero E, Ribas J. Association between internet gaming disorder or pathological video-game use and comorbid psychopathology: A comprehensive review. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2018; 15(4): 668. doi: 10.3390/ijerph15040668 PMID: 29614059
  8. Benedetto L. Problematic internet use and sensation seeking in adults with ADHD symptoms. J Clin Dev Psychol 2019; 1(1)
  9. Yen JY, Liu TL, Wang PW, Chen CS, Yen CF, Ko CH. Association between internet gaming disorder and adult attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder and their correlates: Impulsivity and hostility. Addict Behav 2017; 64: 308-13. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2016.04.024 PMID: 27179391
  10. Lee J, Bae S, Kim BN, Han DH. Impact of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder comorbidity on longitudinal course in Internet gaming disorder: A 3-year clinical cohort study. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2021; 62(9): 1110-9. doi: 10.1111/jcpp.13380 PMID: 33751554
  11. Berloffa S, Salvati A, D’Acunto G, et al. Internet gaming disorder in children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Children 2022; 9(3): 428. doi: 10.3390/children9030428 PMID: 35327800
  12. Kim D, Lee J. Addictive internet gaming usage among korean adolescents before and after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic: A comparison of the latent profiles in 2018 and 2020. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021; 18(14): 7275. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18147275 PMID: 34299725
  13. Brand M, Young KS, Laier C. Prefrontal control and internet addiction: A theoretical model and review of neuropsychological and neuroimaging findings. Front Hum Neurosci 2014; 8: 375. doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2014.00375 PMID: 24904393
  14. Zajac K, Ginley MK, Chang R, Petry NM. Treatments for Internet gaming disorder and Internet addiction: A systematic review. Psychol Addict Behav 2017; 31(8): 979-94. doi: 10.1037/adb0000315 PMID: 28921996
  15. Park JH, Lee YS, Sohn JH, Han DH. Effectiveness of atomoxetine and methylphenidate for problematic online gaming in adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Hum Psychopharmacol 2016; 31(6): 427-32. doi: 10.1002/hup.2559 PMID: 27859666
  16. Han DH, Lee YS, Na C, et al. The effect of methylphenidate on Internet video game play in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Compr Psychiatry 2009; 50(3): 251-6. doi: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2008.08.011 PMID: 19374970
  17. Young KS. Caught in the net: How to recognize the signs of internet addiction-and a winning strategy for recovery. Wiley 1998.
  18. Pontes HM, Griffiths MD. Measuring DSM-5 internet gaming disorder: Development and validation of a short psychometric scale. Comput Human Behav 2015; 45: 137-43. doi: 10.1016/j.chb.2014.12.006
  19. Kaufman J, Birmaher B, Brent D, et al. Schedule for affective disorders and schizophrenia for school-age children-present and lifetime version (K-SADS-PL): Initial reliability and validity data. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 1997; 36(7): 980-8. doi: 10.1097/00004583-199707000-00021 PMID: 9204677
  20. Cortese S, Adamo N, Del Giovane C, et al. Comparative efficacy and tolerability of medications for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in children, adolescents, and adults: A systematic review and network meta-analysis. Lancet Psychiatry 2018; 5(9): 727-38. doi: 10.1016/S2215-0366(18)30269-4 PMID: 30097390
  21. Kimko HC, Cross JT, Abernethy DR. Pharmacokinetics and clinical effectiveness of methylphenidate. Clin Pharmacokinet 1999; 37(6): 457-70. doi: 10.2165/00003088-199937060-00002 PMID: 10628897
  22. Fioravanti G, Casale S. Evaluation of the psychometric properties of the Italian internet addiction test. Cyberpsychol Behav Soc Netw 2015; 18(2): 120-8. doi: 10.1089/cyber.2014.0493 PMID: 25684612
  23. Monacis L, Palo V, Griffiths MD, Sinatra M. Validation of the internet gaming disorder scale - Short-Form (IGDS9-SF) in an Italian-speaking sample. J Behav Addict 2016; 5(4): 683-90. doi: 10.1556/2006.5.2016.083 PMID: 27876422
  24. Styck KM, Watkins MW. Structural validity of the WISC-IV for students With ADHD. J Atten Disord 2017; 21(11): 921-8. doi: 10.1177/1087054714553052 PMID: 25294015
  25. Gao X, Zhang M, Yang Z, et al. Structural and functional brain abnormalities in internet gaming disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: A comparative meta-analysis. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12: 679437. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.679437 PMID: 34276447
  26. Masi G, Berloffa S, Muratori P, Paciello M, Rossi M, Milone A. Internet addiction disorder in referred adolescents: A clinical study on comorbidity. Addict Res Theory 2021; 29(3): 205-11. doi: 10.1080/16066359.2020.1772242

Supplementary files

Supplementary Files
Action
1. JATS XML
Download

Copyright (c) 2024 Bentham Science Publishers