title: Attachment and family functioning in patients with internet addiction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although the Internet is used effectively in many areas of life, some users experience problems because of over-use due to a lack of control. The diagnostic criteria for Internet addiction include disruptions in family relationships, but adequate data on the attachment styles and family functioning associated with this condition are limited. This study aimed to investigate the attachment styles and family functioning of patients with Internet addiction.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample included 30 male patients consecutively admitted to the Bakırköy Mental Health and Research Hospital Internet Addiction Outpatient Clinic, who were diagnosed in clinical interviews as having Internet addiction according to Young's (1998) criteria. Thirty healthy males who were matched with the experimental group in terms of sociodemographic characteristics were included as control subjects. Both groups provided sociodemographic data and completed the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Experiences in Close Relationships Questionnaire-r (ECR-r) and the Family Assessment Device (FAD).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with Internet addiction had higher BDI scores (P<.001) and higher attachment anxiety subscores on ECR-r (P<.001) compared with those in the control group. Patients with Internet addiction evaluated their family functioning as more negative and reported problems in every aspect addressed by the FAD. Scores on the FAD behaviour control, affective responsiveness, and problem-solving subscales (P<.05) and on the FAD communication, roles, and general functioning subscales (P<.001) were significantly higher in the patient compared with the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with Internet addiction have more anxious attachment styles as well as prominent disruptions in family functioning. Thus, it may be important to evaluate the attachment styles and family functioning of patients with Internet addiction. Indeed, comprehensive treatment approaches including other family members may make important contributions to treatment success.
authors.affiliation: Bülent Ecevit University School of Medicine psychiatry department, Zonguldak, Turkey. Electronic address: senorman_7@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Ömer
authors.initials: Ö
authors.lastname: Şenormancı
authors.affiliation: Zonguldak Atatürk State Hospital, Zonguldak, Turkey.
authors.forename: Güliz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Şenormancı
authors.affiliation: Bakirkoy Research and Training Hospital for Psychiatry, Neurology and Neurosurgery, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Oya
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Güçlü
authors.affiliation: Bakirkoy Research and Training Hospital for Psychiatry, Neurology and Neurosurgery, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ramazan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Konkan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology*; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000523:psychology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D005195:Family Relations; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D009769:Object Attachment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Anxious attachment; Avoidant attachment; Depression; Family functioning; Internet addiction