Internet Addiction

Dear Colleagues,

The extensive availability of the Internet has led to the recognition of problematic internet use (so-called internet addiction, IA). Problematic internet use is usually defined as a problematic, compulsive use of the internet, resulting in significant impairment in an individual's function in various life domains over a prolonged period of time. The disorder is increasingly prevalent; about 5% of the adolescent population are supposed to be sufferers. The difficulty of recognition is that internet-based technology has improved many aspects of our lives and it is now an essential part of our everyday routine, including work, private life and social functioning, therefore many individuals are not aware of the misuse or problematic use.

Problematic internet use seems to be associated with medical conditions such as anxiety, depression, drug abuse and malnutrition; furthermore, recent studies have demonstrated a possible association of burnout and internet addiction, as they are considered to be serious mental health problems based on symptomatology that is related to chronic stress, and are mostly conjoined among adolescents. Several MRI studies suggest the breakdown of functional brain networks, especially the involvement of the prefrontal cortex, which may play a role in the behavioral and mental consequences of addiction. However, these and other relationships between digital media use and mental health have been under considerable research, and have generated controversy, debate and quarreling among expert researchers, healthcare and non-healthcare professionals, due to insufficient data, poor quality research and a lack of randomized studies.

The aim of our Special Topic is to focus on the complex background of internet addiction (for example, prevalence, demographic data, burnout, depression, sleep disturbance and quality of life, etc.) in different populations (for example adolescents, eSport users, adults, etc.), including fMRI studies. Original research, meta-analysis, and review articles related to this Special Topic are welcome, from preclinical research to multidisciplinary clinical management.

Potential themes relevant to this Research Topic may include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Prevalence of internet addiction
2. Risk factors of internet addiction
3. Burnout and internet addiction
4. Brain networks in internet addiction
5. Internet addiction and quality of life
6. Mental and physical consequences of internet addiction
7. Co-incidence of internet and other addictions
8. Therapy of internet addiction

Dr. Gergely Fehér
Dr. Gergely Darnai
Topic Editors