| Authors |
Participants |
Inventory |
Results |
| Peukert et al. [24] |
N = 2506 German students (n = 950 males), age M = 23.9, SD = 3.85 were divided into two subgroups: CIUSRisk group n=90 vs. control group n=90 |
CIUS, daily average Internet use duration, German Depression Scale, European Addiction Severity Index, Quality of life |
The CIUSRisk group (high CIUS-values) showed increased depressive and manic affect profiles and lower quality of life. Concerning lifetime psychopathology the CIUSRisk group reported more depressive episodes, anxiety disorders, ADHD and suicidal ideation. |
| Barke et al. [25] |
1. sample (online) N=1041; 2. sample (paper pencil, students) N=841; 3. sample (retest sample, students) N=105 |
GPIUS2, IAT, UCLA-Loneliness Scale, State-Trait-Depression Scale, Brief Fear of Negative Evaluations Scale |
The GPIUS2 scores correlated strongly with depression (r=.54). Depression along with loneliness and social anxiety explained 46% of the variance in GPIUS2 scores. |
| Müller et al. [26] |
N=290 German treatment seekers in an outpatient clinic specialized for behavioral addictions at the age between 18 and 64 years |
AICA-S; diagnostic interviews to assess symptoms of Internet addiction; SCL-90-R; PHQ |
71% of the sample was classified as being Internet addicted. Half of the patients with Internet addiction met criteria for one further psychiatric disorder according to clinical interviews, especially depressive disorders. |
| Wölfling et al. [27] |
Two groups: 1. N=71 male patients meeting criteria for comorbid Internet addiction vs. 2. control group of N=58 male patients treated for alcohol addiction without addictive Internet use age between 16 and 65 years |
AICA-S, SCL-90-R, PHQ, the seven-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder, subjective perceived impairment of the general health condition (3 items) |
Comorbid Internet addiction was associated among others with higher levels of depression. Moreover, the patients with IA more frequently met criteria for additional mental disorders, especially depression. |
| Müller et al. [28] |
N=71 patients (64% boys) between the age of 8 and 17 in psychiatric inpatient settings |
AICA-S, Youth Self-Report and Child Behavior Checklist |
11.3 % of the patients fulfilled the criteria of addictive Internet use. These patients were older and more often affected by anxiety and depression than patients without Internet addiction. |
| Fischer et al. [29] |
N=1435 students (48% boys) |
Young Diagnostic Questionnaire, BDI, Deliberate Self Harm Inventory, Paykel Suicide Scale |
80.7% of the students reported regular, 14.5% risky, and 4.8 % pathological Internet use. The risky and the pathological Internet users showed significant higher rates of depression, deliberate self-harm and suicidal behavior compared to students with regular internet use. |
| Beutel et al. [23] |
Representative sample of N=1401 females, N=1111 males between the ages of 14 and 94 years; randomly selected subjects |
face-to-face interviews, Cambridge Depersonalization Scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Internet use was measured with single items |
There was no difference between problematic and normal Internet users regarding anxiety or depression. |
| teWildt et al. [30] |
N=18 Internet-dependent patients with depressive mood disorder vs. matched control participants |
Barrat Impulsiveness Scale, Internet addiction scale, BDI, SCL-90-R subscale for depression, Sense of Coherence Scale, Dissociative Experience Scale, Inventory for interpersonal problems |
Within the initial sample of N=23 Internet dependent patients, 18 (78.3%) were diagnosed with a depressive disorder. Patients with Internet dependency scored significantly higher in BIS, Depression (BDI) and SCL-90R subscale for depression than the control group. |
Note. AICA-S: Scale for the Assessment of Internet and Computer game Addiction; SCL-90-R: Symptom Checklist 90R; PHQ: Patient Health Questionnaire; BDI: Beck
Depression Inventory; GPIUS2: Generalized Pathological Internet Use Scale; IAT: Internet addiction test; CIUS: Compulsive Internet Use Scale