Longer term effect of randomized, controlled group cognitive behavioural therapy for Internet addiction in adolescent students in Shanghai.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the therapeutic effectiveness of group cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for Internet addiction in adolescents.


METHODS
A total of 56 patients, who met Beard's diagnostic criteria for Internet addiction, aged 12-17 years, were divided randomly into an active treatment group (n = 32) and a clinical control group (n = 24). Participants in the active treatment group were treated with an eight-session multimodal school-based group CBT while participants in the clinical control group received no intervention. Internet use, time management, emotional, cognitive and behavioural measures were assessed for both groups at baseline, immediately after the intervention and at 6 month follow up by investigators blind to the participants' group status.


RESULTS
Internet use decreased in both groups while only the multimodal school-based group CBT evinced improved time management skills and better emotional, cognitive and behavioural symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
Multimodal school-based group CBT is effective for adolescents with Internet addiction, particularly in improving emotional state and regulation ability, behavioural and self-management style.
Du
Ya-song
YS
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China.
Jiang
Wenqing
W
Vance
Alasdair
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000628:therapy*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D012919:Social Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013995:Time; D017748:Time Management; D016896:Treatment Outcome