Comparison of internet addiction between patients diagnosed with OCD and releated disorders and healthy controls

Purpose: The aim of this work is to study the relationship between internet addiction and impulsivity on patients diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive and related disorders. Materials and Methods: In this research, there were total of 160 participants which consists of 80 healthy volunteers and 80 patients diagnosed with following disorders wıth respect to DSM-5 criteria, -obsessive-compulsive, body dysmorphic, hoarding, hair-pulling and excoriation-. Each participant's sociodemographic information was recorded through interviews. In addition, Yale-Brown OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder), Barratt Impulsiveness and Internet Addiction scales were administrated to each participant. Results: There was no difference between patient and control groups in terms of sociodemographic data and usage of alcohol and tobacco. Patients with family psychological disorder medical history in OCD group were higher than control group. Internet usage time and using internet for chat purposes in patient group were significantly higher than control group. It has been found that, Internet Addiction Scale (IAS), Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11), Attentional Impulsiveness Subscale and Nonplanning Impulsiveness Subscale scores in OCD group were significantly higher than control group. Furthermore, IAS scores and BIS-11 scores were positively correlated and IAS scores and internet usage time were also positively correlated in patient group. Conclusion and Discussion: In this research, it has been found that IAS scores were significantly higher in patients with diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive and related disorders than healthy volunteers. There was statistically meaningful difference between patient and control group in terms of internet usage frequency and time. These findings show that, there is a strong relationship between Internet Addiction and obsessive-compulsive and related disorders. Additionally, there is a positive relationship between impulsiveness and internet addiction. All these findings should be taken into consideration by practitioners and researchers working on psychiatric classification field. Additionally, this issue should be investigated through further academic researchers and needs to be revealed through these studies.