Swiss psychiatrists' beliefs and attitudes about internet addiction.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the beliefs and attitudes of Swiss general psychiatrists toward Internet addiction.


METHODS
Ninety-fourth Swiss psychiatrists filled out a questionnaire at a conference of general psychiatry assessing their views on the concept of Internet addiction, their evaluation methods and treatment procedures they use.


RESULTS
A cluster analysis revealed three groups: DISBELIEVERS (N = 20) rejected the concept of Internet addiction and its importance, not considering it a real clinical problem and consequently not considering the existence of a specific treatment. The NOSOLOGY BELIEVERS (N = 66) and NOSOLOGY/TREATMENT BELIEVERS (N = 8) assumed that Internet addiction is a real problem. While NOSOLOGY/TREATMENT BELIEVERS asserted the availability of effective treatment (mainly psychological), NOSOLOGY BELIEVERS were less affirmative regarding treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Thought the concept of Internet addiction is largely acknowledged as a clinical reality by Swiss psychiatrists, routine screening and treatment remain uncommon, mainly due to the belief that efficient treatment is still lacking.
Thorens
Gabriel
G
Division of Addictology, Geneva University Hospitals, Rue verte, 2, 1205, Geneva, Switzerland. Gabriel.thorens@hcuge.ch
Khazaal
Yasser
Y
Billieux
Joël
J
Van der Linden
Martial
M
Zullino
Daniele
D