Screening and Diagnostic Guideline for Internet Use Disorders

Aim: This paper aims to report comprehensive, evidence-based guidelines for screening and diagnosing Internet Use Disorders (IUDs), including subtypes such as Gaming Disorder, Social Network Use Disorder, Pornography Use Disorder, and Shopping Disorder. Methods: Guidelines are derived from a review of the literature up to November 2021 and expert consensus. Diagnostic tools are assessed against 11 quality criteria, including adherence to ICD-11 and DSM-5 criteria, psychometric robustness, and clinical applicability. The recommendations focus on validated questionnaires for screening and structured clinical interviews for confirmatory diagnoses. Results: The guideline proposes ten key recommendations. For general IUD screening, tools such as the CIUS, OSV-S/AICA-S, and ACSID-11 are recommended. Specific tools for subtypes include the IGDS9-SF and GDT for Gaming Disorder (CSAS and GADIS for children and adolescents), SMDS/SOMEDIS for Social Network Use Disorder, BPS and PPCS-6 for Pornography Use Disorder, and PBS and COSS for Shopping Disorder. Structured clinical interviews, including the AICA-SKI-IBS and I-CAT, are recommended for definitive diagnoses. Conclusions: This is the first guideline to address screening and diagnosis of IUDs. As some recommendations are based on a limited level of evidence, future updates should incorporate scientific advancements to enhance its clinical utility and relevance