Tecnotest: A screening tool for technological addictions and gambling disorder

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Public Health
• Digital Health

Background:

• Behavioral addictions, including technological addictions and gambling, pose a significant public health challenge, particularly among adolescents.
• The National Drugs Plan (PNSD) prioritizes the development of early detection tools for these growing issues.
• Existing screening methods require refinement for accurate identification of at-risk individuals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a screening tool for early detection of technological addictions (video games, mobile, social networks) and gambling.
• To provide professionals with a reliable instrument for identifying individuals with potential behavioral addictions.

Main Methods:

• For technological addictions, participants self-identifying problems and seeking treatment were selected due to a lack of agreed clinical criteria.
• For gambling, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5) criteria were applied.
• The top three items with the highest Positive Predictive Values (PPV) from four validated tests were chosen for the screening tool.

Main Results:

• The study presents a finalized screening tool with demonstrated psychometric properties.
• The tool effectively distinguishes between functional technology/gambling use and problematic addictive behaviors.
• The screening tool is suitable for use by professionals working with adolescents.

Conclusions:

• The developed screening tool offers a valuable resource for the early detection of behavioral addictions in adolescents.
• Early identification enables timely referral to specialized healthcare services.
• This tool supports public health initiatives aimed at mitigating the impact of technological and gambling addictions.