Clinical Study
Treatment Outcomes in Patients with Internet Addiction: A Clinical Pilot Study on the Effects of a Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Program
Table 1
Therapeutic elements of the therapy program “Short-term treatment for internet and computer game addiction” (STICA).
| Probatory | Psychological diagnostic of IA | Anamnesis of current and life-time media use | Identification of problematically used online contents | Diagnostic of comorbid disorders | Assessment of psychopathological symptoms and psychosocial resources |
| Initial stage | Initializing trustful patient-therapist alliance and therapy commitment | Assessment and enhancement of motivation for behavioral change | Development of proximal and distal therapy aims |
Psychoeducation |
| Behavior modification | Psychoeducation | Identification of triggers (situations, cognitions, beliefs, emotions, and psychophysiological reactions) of Internet use | Development of SORKC-schemes and cognitive restructuring | Development of an individual model of IA | Training module: discrimination of emotional states | Social skills training |
Reestablishment of alternative behavioral strategies and interests |
| Stabilization and relapse prevention | Reestablishment of alternative behavioral strategies and interests | Exposure training and habituation training | Individual relapse prevention, stopping techniques, and emergency plans |
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