Title : 'Social media addiction and comorbid psychiatric conditions among medical students and assistant, with new horizons in treatment
Abstract:
Introduction: Whole World is experiencing the effect of change due to technological developments. Internet is taking place at the top of this list . With the convenience it brings to our lives, increased use of various social media applications , they are used by academics, doctors, also the business world so much since the day it was introduced. It reveals new forms of communication and is based on interaction, so causes the time left for itself to be too much, as well as being in fashion for the users.Then the new term' social media addiction ' took its place in our lives. Comorbidity with other addictions and psychiatric diseases takes place in our new agenda.
Materials and Methods: In this research, the social media addiction level of medical students and assistant doctors working in the hospital of education and research hospital of Adnan Menderes University school of medicine was tried to be measured. W?th th?s, alcohol,nicotine, caffeine, drug,gambling addictions and any other psychiatric disorder were also questioned. Individuals who were obtained positive about one of these topics, were followed by a specialist psychiatrist for addiction treatment using cognitive behavioral therapy with/without pharmacotherapy. We organised face-to-face meetings weekly for 12 weeks for addiction therapy.
Results and Discussion: Increasing problematic social media use/addiction and especially nicotine, caffeine addictions have been found to be quite common among medical students and assistant doctors. Also, almost twenty percent of participants had comorbid anxiety disorders and nearly thirty five percent of participants had depressive disorder . With 12 weeks of cognitive behovioral therapy and pharmacotherapy in selected cases, the participants improved insight into addiction, social media usage times have decreased. The participant with comorbid depressive and anxiety disorders, showed regression in Beck Anxiety and Depression Scale significantly.
Conclusion/Recommendation: All kinds of addiction may commonly be seen in among medical students and assistant doctors due to intense working hours, stressful education life. Early and effective intervention in every addiction is important for successful treatment . Therefore, screening studies are also gaining importance.
