title: Effects of a manualized short-term treatment of internet and computer game addiction (STICA): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the last few years, excessive internet use and computer gaming have increased dramatically. Salience, mood modification, tolerance, withdrawal symptoms, conflict, and relapse have been defined as diagnostic criteria for internet addiction (IA) and computer addiction (CA) in the scientific community. Despite a growing number of individuals seeking help, there are no specific treatments of established efficacy.
  
  
  METHODS
  This clinical trial aims to determine the effect of the disorder-specific manualized short-term treatment of IA/CA (STICA). The cognitive behavioural treatment combines individual and group interventions with a total duration of 4 months. Patients will be randomly assigned to STICA treatment or to a wait list control group. Reliable and valid measures of IA/CA and co-morbid mental symptoms (for example social anxiety, depression) will be assessed prior to the beginning, in the middle, at the end, and 6 months after completion of treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A treatment of IA/CA will establish efficacy and is desperately needed. As this is the first trial to determine efficacy of a disorder specific treatment, a wait list control group will be implemented. Pros and cons of the design were discussed.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ClinicalTrials (NCT01434589).
authors.affiliation: Outpatient Clinic for Behavioural Addictions, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany. Susanne.jaeger@unimedizin-mainz.de
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jäger
authors.forename: Kai W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ruckes
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wittig
authors.forename: Anil
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Batra
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Musalek
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mann
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wölfling
authors.forename: Manfred E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Beutel
mesh_terms: D000339:Affect; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D001292:Attitude to Computers; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group; D012107:Research Design; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018910:Video Games / Q000523:psychology*