Child hospitalized due to excessive smartphone use
Teenager Admitted to ER Due to Smartphone Withdrawal Symptoms
At a recent mental health conference in Turin, organized by Motor Health, a case was highlighted of a teenager who experienced a psychiatric crisis due to smartphone withdrawal. The patient, who had no history of substance abuse, exhibited anxiety, restlessness, and physical discomfort, prompting doctors to administer anxiolytics. This instance serves as an example of emerging behavioral dependencies being observed in emergency rooms.
Digital Addiction and the Brain's Reward System
Neuroscience reveals that smartphone addiction targets the same brain areas as psychoactive substances, stimulating the dopaminergic system and offering immediate gratification. Continuous demand for stimuli arises as a result, further underlying smartphone addiction's potential to be psychologically harmful.
Recognizable Clinical Signs, Common Causes, and Epidemiological Data
In the absence of a smartphone, users may experience anxiety, irritability, difficulty stopping use, social isolation, performance decline in academic settings, and sleep disturbances. As outlined by a 2017 South Korean study, one in five middle school students is at risk of addiction, often triggered by school stress and burnout. Approximately one-quarter of Italian adolescents have problematic cellphone usage, impacting their sleep by an average of 6.5 hours per week, according to data from the Ministry of Health.
Effective Treatments and Healthcare System Criticisms
Cognitive-behavioral therapy is currently the recommended treatment method, with the most sustainable results achieved through at least seven to eight sessions. Intensive educational approaches have proven effective in reducing compulsive use. However, the healthcare system's response remains insufficient, with hospitals primarily addressing psychiatric crises related to addiction, while structural cases are often handled by SERD—which still adhere to a substance-centered approach.
Transitioning to a New Integrated Model
Some healthcare institutions are experimenting with a multidisciplinary model that includes collaboration between psychiatry, neuropsychiatry, and psychology to provide comprehensive support for youth distress. In our hyper-connected society, it is crucial to supply young people with emotional and cognitive tools that empower them to navigate technology without falling into its grasp.
Practical Tips for Parents
The role of parents is crucial in preventing and dealing with digital addiction. They should consult their local SERD for an initial evaluation, contact their pediatrician or primary care physician for an initial screening, promptly seek psychological support, and become informed about available therapeutic communities and support centers in Turin.
Effective Treatments for Digital Addiction in Adolescents
Treating digital addiction in adolescents often requires a combination of therapeutic approaches and careful time management of screen usage. Behavioral therapies, technology-based interventions, family involvement, and strategies to manage screen time have demonstrated success. In Turin, Italy, parents seeking help for children struggling with digital addiction can access local mental health services, private clinics and therapists, parenting support groups, and community initiatives focused on digital literacy and healthy screen habits.
[1] SAMHSA's National Helpline: https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline
- Emerging behavioral dependencies like smartphone addiction are targeting the same brain areas as psychoactive substances, stimulating the dopaminergic system and offering immediate gratification, as revealed by neuroscience.
- In line with a 2017 South Korean study, one in five middle school students is at risk of addiction, often triggered by school stress and burnout, and approximately one-quarter of Italian adolescents have problematic cellphone usage, according to data from the Ministry of Health.
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy is currently the recommended treatment method for digital addiction, with the most sustainable results achieved through at least seven to eight sessions, and parental involvement is key in prevention and management of digital addiction in children.
- In Turin, Italy, parents seeking help for children struggling with digital addiction can access local mental health services, private clinics and therapists, parenting support groups, and community initiatives focused on digital literacy and healthy screen habits.
