Psychiatric Comorbidity of Internet Addiction in College Students: An Interview Study

OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed to evaluate the association between Internet addiction and depressive disorder, social phobia and adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in a sample of Taiwanese college students; and examine gender differences in the psychiatric comorbidity of Internet addiction in this student population. METHODS: Two hundred sixteen college students (132 males, 84 females) were recruited. Internet addiction, major depressive disorder, dysthymic disorder, social phobia, and adult ADHD of all participants were diagnosed based on psychiatric diagnostic interview. RESULTS: This study revealed that adult ADHD and depressive disorders were associated with Internet addiction among college students. However, depressive disorders were associated with Internet addiction in the males but not the females. CONCLUSION: With these results, it seems reasonable to suggest that effective evaluation of, and treatment for, adult ADHD and depressive disorders is required for college students with Internet addiction.