Starodubtzeva Y. Computer addiction in the structure of adjustment disorders (clinical and psychopathological characteristics, system of therapy and prevention)

To achieve the set goal in the Clinic of Psychiatry and Narcology and in the outpatient department of the Military Medical Clinical Center of the Northern Region was conducted a comprehensive examination of 167 patients (80 women and 87 men) with adjustment disorders (F43.21, F43.22) in accordance with the principles of bioethics and deontology. The main group consisted of 105 patients with adjustment disorders, who were diagnosed with 20 or more points in the COMP section of AUDIT-like tests, which corresponded to the presence of a state of clinically pronounced computer dependence. The comparison group – 62 patients with adjustment disorders without signs of computer dependence. The main group, in turn, was divided into a therapeutic group (65 patients), which patients participated in a therapeutic program developed based from this research and a control group (40 patients), who received standard regulated therapy in the hospital. It was found that the structure of computer addiction in the main group of examined patients were: obsessive surfing, computer games, virtual dating, fascination with online gambling, cybersex. For the first time a personalized system of complex therapy and prevention of computer addiction in the structure of adjustment disorders with differentiated use of methods of psychopharmacotherapy, psychotherapy and psychoeducation was developed and scientifically substantiated. High efficiency of the developed personalized system of complex therapy and prevention of computer dependence in the structure of adjustment disorders in comparison with traditional complex treatment on reduction of addictive behavior, psychopathological symptoms, reduction of anxiety, depression and neuropsychiatric stress on the appropriate scales, positive dynamics of stress-relieving behavior, restoration of social activity and improving of the patient’s life quality.