The rise of digitalization has fundamentally changed our lifestyle by the beginning of the 21st century. Although it is associated with many beneficial effects, the dark side of digitalization has also been recognized such as internet or smartphone addictions. Their recognition can be difficult as these digital technologies and devices have improved many aspects of our lives and they are integral parts of our work, private life and social functioning, which makes their recognition very difficult.
Despite intensive research carried out in recent years, individual digital addictions are not properly categorized and not labelled as medical conditions, these are regarded as one of the consequences of the mental vulnerability of the young. However, these new addictions can be associated with mental issues such as burnout or depression and several medical conditions including substance abuse, obesity, loss of lean body muscle and metabolic syndrome. Several MRI studies suggest the breakdown of functional brain networks, especially the involvement of the prefrontal cortex, which may play a role in the behavioral and mental consequences of addiction.
The aim of our Research Topic is to focus on the complex background (such as types, prevalence, risk factors) and consequences (such as burnout, mental issues, somatic diseases etc) of digital addiction among adolescents and different population of adults. Original research, meta-analysis, and review articles related to this Research Topic are welcome, from preclinical research to multidisciplinary clinical management.
Potential themes relevant to this Research Topic may include, but are not limited to, the following:
1. Internet addiction
2. Smartphone addiction
3. Nomophobia
4. Media and social media addictions
5. Cybersex addiction
6. Problematic online gaming
7. Compulsive information seeking
8. Brain network changes in digital addictions
9. Detection of addictions including comparisons of different questionnaires
10. Cardiovascular changes in digital addictions
11. Mental and physical consequences of digital addiction
12. Co-incidence of new and traditional addictions
13. Therapy of addiction
The rise of digitalization has fundamentally changed our lifestyle by the beginning of the 21st century. Although it is associated with many beneficial effects, the dark side of digitalization has also been recognized such as internet or smartphone addictions. Their recognition can be difficult as these digital technologies and devices have improved many aspects of our lives and they are integral parts of our work, private life and social functioning, which makes their recognition very difficult.
Despite intensive research carried out in recent years, individual digital addictions are not properly categorized and not labelled as medical conditions, these are regarded as one of the consequences of the mental vulnerability of the young. However, these new addictions can be associated with mental issues such as burnout or depression and several medical conditions including substance abuse, obesity, loss of lean body muscle and metabolic syndrome. Several MRI studies suggest the breakdown of functional brain networks, especially the involvement of the prefrontal cortex, which may play a role in the behavioral and mental consequences of addiction.
The aim of our Research Topic is to focus on the complex background (such as types, prevalence, risk factors) and consequences (such as burnout, mental issues, somatic diseases etc) of digital addiction among adolescents and different population of adults. Original research, meta-analysis, and review articles related to this Research Topic are welcome, from preclinical research to multidisciplinary clinical management.
Potential themes relevant to this Research Topic may include, but are not limited to, the following:
1. Internet addiction
2. Smartphone addiction
3. Nomophobia
4. Media and social media addictions
5. Cybersex addiction
6. Problematic online gaming
7. Compulsive information seeking
8. Brain network changes in digital addictions
9. Detection of addictions including comparisons of different questionnaires
10. Cardiovascular changes in digital addictions
11. Mental and physical consequences of digital addiction
12. Co-incidence of new and traditional addictions
13. Therapy of addiction
