Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Mental Health
Date Submitted: Jan 19, 2022
Date Accepted: Aug 6, 2022
Web-based treatment for online behavioral addictions: A systematic review of content and effectiveness
ABSTRACT
Background:
There is a growing demand for interventions for online problematic and addictive behaviors, including online gaming, gambling, shopping, pornography use, and social media use. Internet-delivered interventions may be more cost-effective and accessible, with the capacity to reach individuals who may otherwise be unlikely to seek face-to-face therapy. However, these interventions have not been systematically evaluated.
Objective:
The present review aimed to: (i) describe the content of internet-delivered interventions for problematic and addictive online behaviors; (ii) determine the therapeutic effectiveness of these interventions.
Methods:
Studies were included on the basis of: (i) study design, including randomized controlled trials and pre-post studies with at least one internet-delivered intervention arm; (ii) quality of post-treatment evaluation, including use of a validated measure of problem severity, frequency, or duration of internet-enabled behavior. A database search of MEDLINE, Embase, PsycInfo, Web of Science, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Google Scholar was conducted in February 2021. Data on behavior change techniques were collected to analyze intervention content, using the Gambling Intervention System of CharacTerization. Quality assessment was conducted using the Effective Public Health Practice Project Quality Assessment Tool.
Results:
Thirteen studies were included in the review. The most commonly employed behavior change techniques in internet-delivered intervention content included cognitive restructuring, self-monitoring, and stimulus control. Seven out of the thirteen studies administered online interventions that were effective in reducing online problem behaviors and/or improving mental health, albeit largely based on pre-post measures and varying in study quality.
Conclusions:
These findings demonstrate the potential of internet-delivered interventions, but there remains a need for enhanced research designs to develop an evidence base that will inform healthcare guidelines.
Citation
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