Dependence on screens: The keys to get out

Screens have become unavoidable, intrusive limit, with a real risk of dependence. When do we talk about addiction to screens? What are the most common addictions? How does one care for addiction to screens?The answers, with the help of Professor Michel Reynaud, Head of the Department of Psychiatry and Addiction of Paul Brousse Hospital (Villejuif).

Screen addiction is mainly an addiction to the internet.More specifically to the pleasures found there: dating, network video games, gambling etc.

Dependence on screens: what is it?

If I can not get away from my smartphone or my tablet, I'm always connected to social networks and the first thing I do in the morning is to surf ..., does that mean- he say that I am dependent on the screens? " No! " Responds immediately Professor Michel Reynaud, Head of the Department of Psychiatry and Addictology Hospital Paul Brousse (Villejuif). " Today is a standard for teenagers and young adults to spend 4 hours a day in front of screens, " he says. To talk about addiction several criteria are necessary: ​​a loss of control (pleasure outweighs reason, need outweighs desire), harmful consequences (social and / or health problems) and the suffering of the individual. " The simple addiction to alcohol , gambling, for example, is the invasion of the motives of an individual by a single object and this, whatever the consequences," says Professor Michel Reynaud.

" What is termed addiction to screens is a more complex addiction, as sexual addiction can be, " explains the addictologist. There is an addictive dimension (only the object of the addiction interests the person) but the harmful consequences are less clear. For example, " there may be difficulties with the spouse, with the family when there is addiction to the screens " informs Professor Reynaud. Note that addiction to screens is not medically recognized. " The question arises of classifying addiction to internet  in international classifications as drug-free addiction"says Professor Reynaud, who says addiction to the screens expresses in fact most often an addiction secondary to a pleasure brought by the Internet.

Dependence on screens: who and why?

" Internet brings all the pleasures that we can wish for: sex, dating, gambling ... There is all you need to hang " observes the addictologist. The internet addicts can be grouped into five categories according to Young: addiction to cyber sex , dependence on the interactive aspect of the Internet (interpersonal mostly online), the monetary dependence (market speculation ... ), addiction to information and finally computer addiction, online games.

The connection is a way to achieve another behavioral addiction. " The addiction to professional screens is related to the phenomenon of workaholism , the invasion by work.The screen is just the media, a perfect tool to never get a job, " says Professor Reynaud. In France, internet addiction is estimated at between 1 and 2% ¹ . First estimates dating from 2011 revealed that 3 to 5% of French teenagers would be affected by an addiction to the Internet². In the United States, this dependency ratio would be 6% ³ and in China 10% ³ . "In addictology counseling, we mostly see people of all ages addicted to dating sites, porn sites, online gambling and young addicts to online video games, "says Professor Reynaud.

Recent studies on internet addiction show that it is massively multiplayer role-playing games (MMORPGs) that are most likely to be addictive among risky users. " The addiction of young people to video games most often reflects an underlying psychopathology: social phobia , psychological disorder, schizoid personality ... " says the addictologist.

Dependence on screens: a treatment based on psychotherapy

Faced with an addiction problem, it is best to go to a specialized addiction clinic. Screen addiction is treated in the same way as medically recognized addictions, namely behavioral psychotherapy. The basics of therapy? Learn to analyze behavior, minimize benefits, help find other pleasures, but also work on the "why" of this compulsive behavior. " The context is very stimulating, we help the patient to identify when this behavior appears" The addict is a way to manage stress, the therapy is also interested in the emotional state in addition to doing work on consumption and the context of consumption. This psychotherapy helps to give the person with addiction strategies to manage stress and relationships with others.

" In specialized centers, we can also prescribe drugs used in the context of other addictions " adds Professor Reynaud. The goal is not to achieve abstinence but controlled use. Psychotherapy involves working with the family, the spouse, " this one must be more supportive than stressful " says the doctor.