[Undiagnosed Internet-Related Disorder in the Psychotherapeutic Care System: Prevalence and Gender-Specific...

Internet-related disorders (IRD) are characterized by uncontrolled use of various Internet applications, which is associated with impairments in various sections and an increased rate of other forms of mental illness. The aim was to identify undiagnosed comorbid IRD and to examine gender-specific differences.

In 19 psychotherapeutic institutions 501 patients (65.3 % women) were recruited.

Comorbid IRD was found in 20.7 % of men and 15.9 % of women. IBS was not identified by the practitioners in 94.6 % of women and 66.6 % of men. In particular affective disorders and substance-related addiction occurred very frequently and regardless of gender. Women were significantly more often affected by eating and personality disorders, men were significantly more often affected by pathological gambling.

A high rate of IBS remains undetected in the psychotherapeutic care system. Women with IBS have other referral diagnoses and are more often affected by severe mental disorders than men.