Scientific article
Review
OA Policy
English

Swiss psychiatrists' beliefs and attitudes about internet addiction

Published inPsychiatric quarterly, vol. 80, no. 2, p. 117-123
Collection
  • Open Access - Licence nationale Springer
Publication date2009
Abstract

AIMS: To investigate the beliefs and attitudes of Swiss general psychiatrists toward Internet addiction. METHODS: Ninety-fourth Swiss psychiatrists filled out a questionnaire at a conference of general psychiatry assessing their views on the concept of Internet addiction, their evaluation methods and treatment procedures they use. RESULTS: A cluster analysis revealed three groups: DISBELIEVERS (N = 20) rejected the concept of Internet addiction and its importance, not considering it a real clinical problem and consequently not considering the existence of a specific treatment. The NOSOLOGY BELIEVERS (N = 66) and NOSOLOGY/TREATMENT BELIEVERS (N = 8) assumed that Internet addiction is a real problem. While NOSOLOGY/TREATMENT BELIEVERS asserted the availability of effective treatment (mainly psychological), NOSOLOGY BELIEVERS were less affirmative regarding treatment. CONCLUSION: Thought the concept of Internet addiction is largely acknowledged as a clinical reality by Swiss psychiatrists, routine screening and treatment remain uncommon, mainly due to the belief that efficient treatment is still lacking.

Keywords
  • Adult
  • *Attitude of Health Personnel
  • *Attitude to Computers
  • *Behavior, Addictive/psychology
  • Cluster Analysis
  • Female
  • Humans
  • *Internet
  • Male
  • Psychiatry/*statistics & numerical data
  • Questionnaires
  • Switzerland
Citation (ISO format)
THORENS, Gabriel et al. Swiss psychiatrists” beliefs and attitudes about internet addiction. In: Psychiatric quarterly, 2009, vol. 80, n° 2, p. 117–123. doi: 10.1007/s11126-009-9098-2
Main files (1)
Article (Published version)
accessLevelPublic
Identifiers
Journal ISSN0033-2720
640views
532downloads

Technical informations

Creation23/04/2012 13:32:34
First validation23/04/2012 13:32:34
Update14/03/2023 17:27:58
Status update14/03/2023 17:27:58
Last indexation29/10/2024 19:39:17
All rights reserved by Archive ouverte UNIGE and the University of GenevaunigeBlack