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Intervening in Problematic Internet Use

NCT ID: NCT03646448

Last Updated: 2021-10-18

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

470 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2017-10-01

Study Completion Date

2020-03-31

Brief Summary

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The present study examines the efficacy of a brief intervention for problematic Internet use based on Motivational Interviewing (MI) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in a sample of students screened proactively in vocational schools in Northern Germany. Participants will be randomized in an intervention and a control group. It is hypothesized that after 12 months, participants of the intervention group fulfill less DSM-5 criteria for Internet use disorders, spend less time in the Internet, and suffer from less negative consequences caused by the problematic Internet use, compared to the control group.

Detailed Description

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Problematic Internet use is an increasing problem, especially in younger age groups. A population-based study revealed elevated prevalences in adolescents and young adults. The present study aims to provide an intervention for this vulnerable group to change the problematic Internet use. This is suggested to prevent the development of more severe forms of dependence. Brief interventions using MI and elements of CBT have shown to be an adequate method to change addictive behaviors.

For the recruitment, students of vocational schools in the states of Schleswig-Holstein and Hamburg in Northern Germany are screened proactively in classes. Participants fulfilling at least 21 points on the Compulsive Internet Use Scale (CIUS) receive a diagnostic telephone interview. If fulfilling at least 2 DSM-5 criteria, participants will be randomly allocated to two conditions: (1) Intervention group with up to three telephone counseling sessions based on MI, (2) Control group receiving a booklet on problematic Internet use. Outcome measures are a reduction of DSM-5 criteria for Internet use disorders, a reduction of time spent on the Internet, and a reduction of negative consequences caused by the problematic Internet use. The efficacy of the intervention will be examined after 6 and 12 months in follow-up interviews.

Conditions

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Internet Use Disorders

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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Intervention group

Counseling based on Motivational Interviewing and elements of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Motivational Interviewing

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Up to three counseling sessions on telephone based on Motivational Interviewing and elements of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Counselings are within 12 weeks after the baseline diagnostic interview and follow the stepped care approach.

Control group

Control group receiving a booklet on problematic Internet use

Group Type NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

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Motivational Interviewing

Up to three counseling sessions on telephone based on Motivational Interviewing and elements of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Counselings are within 12 weeks after the baseline diagnostic interview and follow the stepped care approach.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* CIUS score of 21 and at least 2 DSM-criteria
* At least 16 years old

Exclusion Criteria

* Current treatment for mental disorders
Minimum Eligible Age

16 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Federal Ministry of Health, Germany

OTHER_GOV

Sponsor Role collaborator

University of Luebeck

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Hans-Jürgen Rumpf

Head of Research group S:TEP

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Hans-Jürgen Rumpf, PD Dr.

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Lübeck

Locations

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University of Lübeck

Lübeck, , Germany

Site Status

Countries

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Germany

Other Identifiers

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1504/68405

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id