The Relationship Between Affective and Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms in Internet Use Disorder

Abstract

We investigated the relationships and diagnostic power of symptoms associated with affective disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and drug addictions on Internet use disorder. Moreover, we tested whether Internet use disorder is characterized by a specific network of symptoms. One-hundred-and-four young adults (78 women) were assessed in laboratory using self-report measures of Internet addiction, alcohol use disorder, cannabis abuse, depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms, impulsiveness, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Only hoarding, obsessing, and depression symptoms were positively linked to Internet use disorder severity, with hoarding having greater power and accuracy than other obsessive-compulsive and affective symptoms. Only individuals with mild-moderate Internet use disorder were characterized by a network of strong and positive associations of affective and obsessive-compulsive symptoms. These findings may encourage future longitudinal studies aimed at identifying potential clinical criteria for the diagnosis of Internet use disorder and treatment targets.

Keywords: Internet addiction; Internet use disorder; anxiety; behavioral addiction; depression; diagnostic criteria; hoarding; obsessive-compulsive symptoms.

Figure 1

Recruitment flow chart.

Figure 2

Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) plots for hoarding, obsessing, and depression symptoms. Larger areas under the curve indicate better global performance of the variable in discriminating individuals with mild to moderate Internet Use Disorder (IUD) from controls.

Figure 3

Correlation network plot for individuals with mild to moderate Internet Use Disorder (IUD) and controls. Only Pearson's rs ≥ |0.30| were included. Variables that are more strongly correlated appear closer together and are connected by stronger paths. The proximity of the points is determined using multidimensional clustering.