Obsession and compulsion in mobile phone use/abuse: OCDUS-ICT

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Neuroscience
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Compulsiveness is a core feature of addictive behaviors.
• Mobile phone abuse is a growing concern with significant societal impact.

Purpose of the Study:

• To adapt the Obsessive-Compulsive Drug-Use Scale (OCDUS) for mobile phone abuse (OCDUS-ICT).
• To evaluate the psychometric properties of the OCDUS-ICT.
• To investigate the relationship between compulsive mobile phone use and prefrontal symptoms.

Main Methods:

• The OCDUS-ICT was developed and administered online.
• Data collected from 748 participants in Spain.
• Correlations with MULTICAGE-ICT and Inventory of Prefrontal Symptoms were analyzed.

Main Results:

• The OCDUS-ICT demonstrated adequate internal consistency and fit indices.
• Obsessive-compulsive components intensified with increased mobile phone use.
• Strong correlations were found between OCDUS-ICT scales and prefrontal malfunction symptoms, particularly thought interference.

Conclusions:

• The OCDUS-ICT is a valid tool for assessing obsessive-compulsive aspects of mobile phone use/abuse.
• Compulsivity in mobile phone abuse is linked to prefrontal cortex dysfunction.
• Future research should focus on compulsivity, alongside impulsivity, in understanding mobile phone abuse.