Study On Psychological Characteristics, Neurotransmitters And Trace Elements Levels Of Adolescents With Internet Addiction Disorder

Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD) is a psychological disability that compulsive overuse of the Internet and the irritable or moody behavior when deprived of it. Its prevalence in the adolescents is about 5%-15%. IAD has significant influences on the study and life of individuals with this disability. Recently years, extensive researches have been performed on the influencing factors and mechanism of IAD, but most of these researches were localized in the realm of psychological and social factors. There are very few studies control groups and randomization in the etiological area of IAD, especially in the neurophysiologic mechanism. Based on the existing research findings, the present study will adopt the methods of questionnaire investigation and experimental study, taking adolescents with IAD and the controls as study objectives, to investigate the prevalence and analyze psychological characteristics, neurotransmitters levels and microelements levels of adolescents with IAD, and to reveal the biological mechanism of IAD. It could provide evidence for clinical treatment of IAD.Part I Epidemic Study on Internet Addiction Disorder among AdolescentsObjective:To investigate the prevalence of Internet addiction disorder (IAD) among adolescents.Methods:Four junior high schools, three senior high schools and one vocational school of Wuhan City were selected representatively according to convenience cluster sampling methods, from which 2197 middle school students were selected for investigation with self-designed questionnaire of general situation and Young's Internet Addiction Disorder Test (IAT).Results:2152 available questionnaires were got back. The availability rate was 97.95%. According to the diagnosis standard of IAD,103 adolescents were diagnosed as Internet addicts, and the prevalence of IAD was 4.79%; the prevalence of IAD in boys more than that in girls (P<0.05). There was no statistical difference on the IAD prevalence between the different grades (P>0.05). The IAD group got significantly higher scores on the on-line time every day(P<0.001). There was statistical difference on the constitution of Internet using places between the two groups(P<0.001).Conclusion:Internet Addiction Disorder is a psychological problem that can't be ignored, since the prevalence of it is so high. There was statistical difference on the IAD prevalence between the boys and girls, while the differences between the grades were possibly concealed by the different gender components in different grades. Different research results can't be compared because of the lack of uniform diagnosis scale and standard. The results indicated that it was necessary that future study adopt perfect sampling method and uniform diagnosis standard.Part II Psychological Characteristics of Adolescents with Internet Addiction DisorderObjective:To explore the psychological characteristics associated with Internet addiction disorder.Methods:According to the Young's IAT,33 students who were diagnosed as Internet Addicts and 44 normal students in internet usage were selected into a case-control study. The 77 students of two groups were assessed using Self-rating Depress Scale (SDS), Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), Time Management Disposition Scale (TMDS), Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), Family Assessment Device (FAD), the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED), Adolescent Self-Rating Life Events Check List (ASLEC), dealing manner scale, Quality of Life (QOF), social support scale, Barratt Impulse Scale (BIS).Results:The IAD group got significantly higher scores on the aspects of depression, anxiety, morality problem, family problem solution, communication, sensibility interposition, total family function, study pressure, being punished, bereavement, others events, total irritability, school horror, impulsion (P<0.05). Contrarily, the IAD group had significantly lower scores on the aspects of social behaviors, schoolwork attitude, parenthood, life advantage, total social support, subjective support, usage of support, problem solution, appealing, value sense of time, control of time, management of time (P<0.05). Correlation analysis revealed there were positive correlations between the score of IAT and on-line time, emotion, total difficulty, total family function, total anxiety, total irritability (P<0.05). Contrarily, there were negative correlations between the score of IAT and satisfaction of life, positive dealing manners, time management (P<0.05).Conclusion:Adolescents with IAD have emotional, psychological and behavioral characteristics differed from the normal adolescents. More psychological and behavioral problems were found on the adolescents with IAD.Partâ…¢Neurotransmitters Levels of Adolescents with Internet Addiction DisorderObjective:To explore the neurophysiology mechanism underlying IAD and to provide evidences for the clinical treatment and further research of IAD.Methods:The same 77 subjects had taken this test. High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) was used to determine the platelet serotonin (5-HT) levels. Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) was used to determined plasma dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine (NE) levels.Results:The results in experimental testing showed that:the platelet serotonin (5-HT) levels of adolescents with IAD were lower than those of normal adolescents significantly (P<0.05). Contrarily, the plasma dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine (NE) levels were higher than those of normal adolescents (P<0.05).Conclusion:The neurotransmitters levels of adolescents with IAD are altered. The 5-HT levels decrease and the DA and NE levels increase. These results reveal the neurobiological mechanism of Internet addiction disorder primarily.Part IV Trace Elements Levels of Adolescents with Internet Addiction DisorderObjective:To explore the association between IAD and microelements levels to provide evidences for the prevention and control of IAD and further research.Methods:The same 77 subjects had taken this test. Blaze Atomic Absorption Spectrometric method was used to determine the blood microelements levels including Pb, Zn, Mg, Ca, Cu. Compare the difference of microelements levels between the two groups and analyze the effects of the microelements on IAD.Results:The results of experimental test showed that:the blood lead levels of adolescents with IAD were higher than those of normal adolescents significantly (P<0.001). Contrarily, the blood zinc, magnesium, calcium levels were lower than those of normal adolescents (P<0.001).Conclusion:The adolescents with IAD have abnormal microelements levels. The results reveal that there is association between IAD and microelements possibly.