serval:BIB_9C747EF3CBA1
Preventing problematic internet use during the COVID-19 pandemic: Consensus guidance
10.1016/j.comppsych.2020.152180
32422427
Király
Orsolya
author
Potenza
Marc N.
author
Stein
Dan J.
author
King
Daniel L.
author
Hodgins
David C.
author
Saunders
John B.
author
Griffiths
Mark D.
author
Gjoneska
Biljana
author
Billieux
Joël
author
Brand
Matthias
author
Abbott
Max W.
author
Chamberlain
Samuel R.
author
Corazza
Ornella
author
Burkauskas
Julius
author
Sales
Célia M.D.
author
Montag
Christian
author
Lochner
Christine
author
Grünblatt
Edna
author
Wegmann
Elisa
author
Martinotti
Giovanni
author
Lee
Hae Kook
author
Rumpf
Hans-Jürgen
author
Castro-Calvo
Jesús
author
Rahimi-Movaghar
Afarin
author
Higuchi
Susumu
author
Menchon
Jose M.
author
Zohar
Joseph
author
Pellegrini
Luca
author
Walitza
Susanne
author
Fineberg
Naomi A.
author
Demetrovics
Zsolt
author
article
2020
Comprehensive Psychiatry
0010-440X
journal
100
152180
As a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many governments have introduced steps such as spatial distancing and “staying at home” to curb its spread and impact. The fear resulting from the disease, the ‘lockdown’ situation, high levels of uncertainty regarding the future, and financial insecurity raise the level of stress, anxiety, and depression experienced by people all around the world. Psychoactive substances and other reinforcing behaviors (e.g., gambling, video gaming, watching pornography) are often used to reduce stress and anxiety and/or to alleviate depressed mood. The tendency to use such substances and engage in such behaviors in an excessive manner as putative coping strategies in crises like the COVID-19 pandemic is considerable. Moreover, the importance of information and communications technology (ICT) is even higher in the present crisis than usual. ICT has been crucial in keeping parts of the economy going, allowing large groups of people to work and study from home, enhancing social connectedness, providing greatly needed entertainment, etc. Although for the vast majority ICT use is adaptive and should not be pathologized, a subgroup of vulnerable individuals are at risk of developing problematic usage patterns. The present consensus guidance discusses these risks and makes some practical recommendations that may help diminish them.
Clinical Psychology
Psychiatry and Mental health
COVID-19
eng
60_published
true
peer-reviewed
University of Lausanne
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