title: Facebook Role Play Addiction - A Comorbidity with Multiple Compulsive-Impulsive Spectrum Disorders.
abstract: Background Problematic Internet use (PIU) is an emerging entity with varied contents. Behavioral addictions have high comorbidity of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders. Social networking site (SNS) addiction and role playing game (RPG) addiction are traditionally studied as separate entities. We present a case with excessive Internet use, with a particular focus on phenomenology and psychiatric comorbidities. Case presentation Fifteen-year-old girl with childhood onset attention deficit disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, adolescent onset trichotillomania, and disturbed family environment presented with excessive Facebook use. Main online activity was creating profiles in names of mainstream fictional characters and assuming their identity (background, linguistic attributes, etc.). This was a group activity with significant socialization in the virtual world. Craving, salience, withdrawal, mood modification, and conflict were clearly elucidated and significant social and occupational dysfunction was evident. Discussion This case highlights various vulnerability and sociofamilial factors contributing to behavioral addiction. It also highlights the presence of untreated comorbidities in such cases. The difference from contemporary RPGs and uniqueness of role playing on SNS is discussed. SNS role playing as a separate genre of PIU and its potential to reach epidemic proportions are discussed. Conclusions Individuals with temperamental vulnerability are likely to develop behavioral addictions. Identification and management of comorbid conditions are important. The content of PIU continues to evolve and needs further study.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences , Center for Addiction Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Bangalore, India.
authors.forename: Deeepa
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nathan
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences , Center for Addiction Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Bangalore, India.
authors.forename: Lekhansh
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shukla
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences , Center for Addiction Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Bangalore, India.
authors.forename: Arun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kandasamy
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences , Center for Addiction Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Bangalore, India.
authors.forename: Vivek
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Benegal
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D015897:Comorbidity; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D012919:Social Behavior; D060756:Social Networking; D014256:Trichotillomania / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D014584:User-Computer Interface
keywords: Facebook addiction; Facebook role play; Internet addiction; role playing; social networking site addiction