Intervention effect in neurodevelopmental disorders with internet addiction in adolescents

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17K16383
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Psychiatric science
• Research Institution: Ehime University
• Principal Investigator: KAWABE KENTARO 愛媛大学, 医学部附属病院, 講師 (90457375)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: ネット依存 / インターネット依存 / 自閉スペクトラム症 / ADHD

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Several studies have reported that internet addiction (IA) is more prevalent in adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, the characteristics of ASD adolescents with IA are unclear. The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of IA in ASD adolescents, and compare the characteristics between the IA and the non-IA groups in adolescents with ASD. The study included 55 participants who were outpatients at Ehime University Hospital and Ehime Rehabilitation Center for Children in Japan, aged 10-19 years, diagnosed with ASD. Based on the total IAT score, 25 out of 55 participants were classified as having IA. The higher scores of ADHD symptoms were observed in the IA group than the non-IA group. The IA group used portable games more often than the non-IA group. The ADHD symptoms were strongly associated with IA in ASD adolescents. More intensive prevention and intervention for IA are needed especially for the ASD adolescents with ADHD symptoms.

Free Research Field

児童精神医学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究結果により、インターネット依存はもとより、昨今疾患として登録されたゲーム障害や、他にもSNSなどスマホ依存全般に関して問題提起ができたと思われる。また、特に発達障害の中でも自閉スペクトラム症とADHD症状がある場合は注意が必要なことが明らかとなった。