İnternet Bağımlılığının Tedavisinde Kullanılan Farmakolojik ve Psikoterapötik Yaklaşımlar

Abstract

Kullanım oranları sürekli artan internet, günümüzde bazı ruhsal halk sağlığı sorunlarını belirginleştirmiştir. “İnternet bağımlılığı” bunlardan sadece bir tanesidir. Davranışsal bağımlılık altında değerlendirilen internet bağımlılığı; uyuşturucu, esrar, eroin gibi proaktif madde bağımlılığının kriterleri ile benzerlik göstermektedir. Son dönemlerde psikiyatrist hekimlerinin klinik vaka incelemeleri internet bağımlılığın da davranışsal bağımlılık olarak resmi otoritelerce kabulüne yönelik ılıman bir ortam oluşturmuştur. İnternet bağımlılığının Dünya Sağlık Örgütü (World Health Organization/ WHO) tarafından tanınıp, “Mental Bozuklukların Tanısal ve Sayımsal El Kitabı veya Ruhsal Bozuklukların Tanısal ve İstatistiksel El Kitabı” (The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders/DSM-5) ile Dünya Sağlık Örgütü'nün Uluslararası Hastalık Sınıflandırması’nda (International Classification of Diseases/ICD-11) yer alması için 2 kriter bulunmaktadır. Birincisi internet bağımlılığının tanı kriterlerinin belirlenmesi, ikincisi ise kanıta dayalı tedavi tekniklerinin yaygın şekilde geçerlilik sağlamasıdır. İnternet bağımlılığının tanı kriterleri üzerinde uzlaşma sağlanmıştır. Fakat alanyazında tedavi tekniklerinin kesinleşebilmesi için çok sayıda araştırmaya ihtiyaç duyulduğu vurgulanmaktadır. Bu araştırma, diğer araştırmacıların önerilerinden hareketle internet bağımlılığının WHO, DSM-5 ve ICD-11’de yer almasına katkıda bulunmak amacı ile hazırlanmıştır. Nitel araştırma yöntemlerinden literatür taraması ile yapılandırılan araştırmada, internet bağımlılığının psikoaktif madde bağımlılığı ile benzer karakteristiğe sahip olduğu saptanmıştır. Araştırmanın bir başka bulgusunda internet bağımlılığının tedavisinde farmakolojik ve psikoterapötik yaklaşım olmak üzere 2 yaygın teknik kullanıldığı anlaşılmıştır. Araştırmada, kanıta dayanan klinik çalışmalarda farmakolojik yaklaşımın daha olumlu sonuçlar vereceğine yönelik güçlü sonuçların olduğu belirlenmiştir. Araştırmacı, son olarak gelecekte yapılabilecek çalışmaların farmakolojik teknik üzerine kümelenmesini önermiştir.

Keywords

• İnternet Bağımlılığı
• Tedavi
• Teknik
• Farmakolojik
• Psikoterapötik

Pharmacological and Therapeutic Approaches Used in The Treatment of Internet Addiction

Abstract

The internet, whose usage rates are constantly increasing, has highlighted some mental public health problems today. “Internet addiction” is just one of them. Internet addiction, which is evaluated under behavioral addiction, is similar to the criteria of proactive substance addiction such as narcotics, marijuana, and heroin. In recent times, clinical case studies of psychiatrists have created a moderate environment for the official authorities to accept internet addiction as a behavioral addiction. There are 2 criteria for internet addiction to be recognized by World Health Organization (WHO) and included in the “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders/DSM-5” and the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Diseases-11 (ICD-11). The first is the determination of the diagnostic criteria of internet addiction, and the second is the widespread validation of evidence-based treatment techniques. A consensus has been reached on the diagnostic criteria of internet addiction. However, it is emphasized in the literature that a great deal of research is needed to finalize the treatment techniques. This research was prepared with the aim of contributing to the inclusion of internet addiction in WHO, DSM-5 and ICD-11 based on the suggestions of other researchers. In the research structured with a literature review from qualitative research methods, it was determined that internet addiction has similar characteristics to psychoactive substance addiction. Another finding of the research was that 2 common techniques, namely pharmacological and psychotherapeutic approaches, were used in the treatment of internet addiction. In the research, it was determined that there were strong results in clinical studies based on evidence that the pharmacological approach would yield more positive results. Finally, the researcher suggested that future studies should be clustered on pharmacological techniques.

Keywords

• Internet Addiction
• Treatment
• Technical
• Pharmacological
• Therapeutic

References

1. Acar, N. (2024). Sosyal medya bağımlılığı: Kökenleri, tanı kriterleri ve tedavi teknikleri. Turkish Online Journal of Design Art and Communication, 14(4), 1099-1114.
2. Acar, N., & Bardakçı, S. (2024). İnternet bozukluğu ölçeğinin (İBÖ-13) Türkçeye uyarlanması ve psikometrik özelliklerinin incelenmesi. İnönü Üniversitesi İletişim Fakültesi Elektronik Dergisi (İNİF E-Dergi), 9(1), 224-241.
3. Alyanak, P. D. B. (2016). İnternet bağımlılığı. Klinik Tıp Pediatri Dergisi, 8(5), 20-24.
4. Ayakdaş Dağlı D., Yüyen M. N. (2023). Davranışsal bağımlılıklar ve hemşirelik yaklaşımı. Bağımlılık Dergisi, 24(1), 104-112.
5. Ayub, S., Jain, L. Parnia, S., Bachu, A., Farhan, R., Kumar, H., Sullivan, A., Ahmed, S. (2023). Treatment modalities for ınternet addiction in children and adolescents: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). J. Clin. Med., 12, 1-10.
6. Basenach, L., Renneberg, B., Salbach, H., Dreier, M., & Wölfling, K. (2023). Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of treatment interventions for internet use disorders: Critical analysis of the methodical quality according to the PRISMA guidelines. Journal Of Behavioral Addictions, 12(1), 9–25.
7. Başer, E., & Söğütlüler, T. (2023). Değişen izleme eğilimleri çerçevesinde dijital platformlar ve içerik reklamları üzerine bir inceleme. Akdeniz İletişim, 2(41), 1-26.
8. Bergmark, K. H., Bergmark, A., & Findahl, O. (2011). Extensive internet involvement—addiction or emerging lifestyle? International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 8(12), 4488-4501. Brand, M., Laier, C., & Young, K. S. (2014). Internet addiction: Coping styles, expectancies, and treatment implications. Frontiers in Psychology, 5, 1-14.

9. Boumparis, N., Haug, S., Abend, S., Billieux, J., Riper, H., & Schaub, M. (2022). Internet-based interventions for behavioral addictions: A systematic review, Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 11(3), 620–642.
10. Bozkurt, H., Şahin, S., & Zoroğlu, S. (2016). İnternet bağımlılığı: Güncel bir gözden geçirme. Çağdaş Tıp Dergisi, 6(3), 235-247.
11. Botturi, l. & Addimando, l. (2025). Inside or between devices: The internet in the mind of primary school children. International Journal of Child-Computer Interaction 43, 1-11.
12. Chen, M., & Wu, Y. (2023). Requirement, major causes and treatments for ınternet addiction: A systematic review. journal of education. Humanities and Social Sciences, 8, 2525-2530.
13. Camardese, G., Leone, B., Walstra, C., Janiri, L., & Guglielmo, R. (2015). Pharmacological treatment of internet addiction. In Internet Addiction. Springer. Chadha, Y., Patil, R., Toshniwal, S., Sinha, N. (2024). Internet addiction management: A comprehensive review of clinical ınterventions and modalities. Cureus, 16(3), 1-11.
14. Çakıcı, M., Çakıcı, E., Karaaziz, M. & Babayiği, A., (2019). A Review of Problem and Pathological Gambling in North Cyprus. Cyprus Turkish Journal of Psychiatry & Psychology, 1(2), 123-28.
15. Davis, R. A. (2001). A cognitive–behavioral model of pathological internet use. Computers in Human Behavior, 17(2), 187–195.
16. Demir, M. (2023). Reflections of social media usage after the 06 February Kahramanmaraş centered earthquakes. Türk Deprem Araştırma Dergisi, 5(2), 248-269.
17. Demirci, A. (2014). Literatür taraması. Yılmaz Arı ve Salih Köse (Ed.). Coğrafya araştırma yöntemleri (73-107), Coğrafyacılar Derneği. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ilhan-Kaya-6/publication/289345577_Cografya_Arastirma_Yontemleri/links/6295e97c431d5a71e76f3218/Cografya-Arastirma-Yoentemleri.pdf
18. Duong, X., L., Liaw, S., Y. & Augustin JL. (2020). How has internet addiction been tracked over the last decade? A literature review and 3C paradigm for future research. Int J Prev Med, 1-11.
19. Darnai, G., Perlaki, G., Zsidó, A. N., Inhóf, O., Orsi, G., Horváth, R., Nagy, S. A., Lábadi, B., Tényi, D., Kovács, N., Dóczi, T., Demetrovics, Z., & Janszky, J. (2019). Internet addiction and functional brain networks: Task-related fMRI study. Scientific reports, 9(1), 1-10.
20. DSM-5. (2022). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. American Psychiatric Association. Erdoğan, M., & Topçu, Ç. (2022). Yeni medya okuryazarlığı üzerine bir araştırma: Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart Üniversitesi Örneği. Akdeniz Üniversitesi İletişim Fakültesi Dergisi, (37), 252-272.
21. Evli, M. & Şimşek, N. (2022). The effect of COVID-19 uncertainty on internet addiction, happiness and life satisfaction in adolescents. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 41, 20-26.
22. Goslar, M., Leibetseder, M., Muench, H. M., Hofmann, S. G., & Laireiter, A. R. (2020). Treatments for internet addiction, sex addiction and compulsive buying: A meta-analysis. Journal of behavioral addictions, 9(1), 14–43.
23. Gülada, M., O. & Keskin Yılmaz, Y. (2023). Kumar bağımlılığına yönelik kamu spotlarının Jakobson’un iletişim işlevleri bağlamında analizi. Gümüşhane Üniversitesi İletişim Fakültesi Elektronik Dergisi (E-GİFDER), 11(2), 1378-1403.
24. Grant, J. E., Potenza, M. N., Weinstein, A., & Gorelick, D. A. (2010). Introduction to behavioral addictions. The American Journal Of Drug And Alcohol Abuse, 36(5), 1-15.
25. Griffiths, M. (2000). Does Internet and computer 'addiction' exist? Some case study evidence. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 3(2), 211-218.
26. Griffiths, M. (2005). A ‘components’ model of addiction within a biopsychosocial framework. Journal of Substance Use, 10(4), 191–197.
27. Hunt, A., Merola, G., Carpenter, T., & Jaeggi, A. (2024). Evolutionary perspectives on substance and behavioural addictions: Distinct and shared pathways to understanding, prediction and prevention. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 159, 1-18.
28. ICD-11, I. (2024). Mortality and Morbidity Statistics. https://icd.who.int/browse/2025-01/mms/en Jiang, Y. et al. (2024) How did Internet usage affect life satisfaction before and after COVID-19? Mediating effects and heterogeneity analysis. Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, 95, 1-15.
29. Johansson A, Götestam KG. (2004). Internet addiction: Characteristics of a questionnaire and prevalence in Norwegian young (12-18 years). Scand J Psychol, 45, 223- 229.
30. Karataş, S., & Aydoğan, Ş. (2024). Sosyal medyada ihlal “sharenting” üzerine bibliyometrik bir analiz. İnönü Üniversitesi İletişim Fakültesi Elektronik Dergisi (İNİF E-Dergi), 9(1), 134-157.
31. Kemp, S. (2025). Digital 2024 global overview report. https://wearesocial.com/uk/blog/2025/02/digital-2025-the-essential-guide-to-the-global-state-of-digital/
32. Kim, J., Oh, H., Yoon, A. (2025). Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy–game: An ironic way to treat internet gaming disorder. J Med Internet Res, 27, 1-16.
33. Korkmaz, B. (2019). Yapısına göre psikoterapi türleri ve etik meseleler. Uludağ Üniversitesi Fen-Edebiyat Fakültesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 20(36), 513-543.
34. Kretzler, B., König, H.-H., & Hajek, A. (2022). Utilization of internet for religious purposes and psychosocial outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 108, 1-6.
35. Li, X., Phromphithakkul, W., & Sun, H. (2025). Digital economy, internet usage, and resident satisfaction. Finance Research Letters, 77, 1-8.
36. Lin, F., & Lei, H. (2015). Structural brain imaging and Internet addiction. In C. Montag & M. Reuter (Eds.). Internet addiction: Neuroscientific approaches and therapeutical. Springer Science + Business Media.
37. Loch, A., A. & Kotov, R. (2025). Promises and pitfalls of internet search data in mental health: Critical review. JMIR Mental Health, 12, 1-8.
38. Lochner, C., Albertella, L., Kidd, M., Kilic, Z., Ioannidis, K., Grant, J. E., Yücel, M., Stein, D. J., & Chamberlain, S. R. (2022). The COVID-19 pandemic and problematic usage of the internet: Findings from a diverse adult sample in South Africa. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 153, 229–235.
39. Margono, H., Saud, M., & Falahat, M. (2024). Virtual tutor, digital natives and AI: Analyzing the impact of ChatGPT on academia in Indonesia. Social Sciences and Humanities Open, 10, 1-8.
40. Maurya, V., P. Kumar S., Parray, W., M. (2022). Cognitive behaviour therapy in treatment of ınternet addiction: Case studies. Indiana Journal of Clinical Psychology, 48(1), 85-88.
41. Mink, F., Lutz, W., & Hehlmann, M. I. (2025). Ecological Momentary Assessment in psychotherapy research: A systematic review. Clinical Psychology Review, 1-9.
42. Mohammadi, S., Jahanshahi, A., Salehi, M. A., Darvishi, R., Seyedmirzaei, H., & Luna, L. P. (2023). White matter microstructural changes in internet addiction disorder: A systematic review of diffusion tensor imaging studies. Addictive Behaviors, 143, 1-15.
43. Moser, A., & Korstjens, I. (2017). Series: Practical guidance to qualitative research. Introduction. The European Journal Of General Practice, 23(1), 271–273.
44. Özmen, M. (1999). Kısa süreli tedavilerde terapötik etkinliğin arttırılması. Klinik Psikiyatri Dergisi, 2(4), 239-246.
45. Özkan, s. (2018). Psikoterapi. Hümanite Psikiyatri Tıp Merkezi, https://www.humanitepsikiyatri.com/
46. Park, J., King, D., Meyers, L., & Rodda, S. (2022). Content and effectiveness of web-based treatments for online behavioral addictions: Systematic review, JMIR Mental Health, 9(9), 1-12.
47. Pawlak A. & Kacprzyk-Straszak A. (2020).What is psychotherapy today? Overview of psychotherapeutic concepts. Journal of Education, Health and Sport, 10(5), 19-32.
48. Petry, N. M., Zajac, K., & Ginley, M. K. (2018). Behavioral addictions as mental disorders: To be or not to be?. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 14, 1-33.
49. Petersen KU, Weymann N, Schelb Y, Thiel R, Thomasius R. (2009). Pathological internet use-- epidemiology, diagnostics, co-occurring disorders and treatment. Fortschr Neurol Psychiatr, 77, 263-271.
50. Poli R. (2017). Internet addiction update: Diagnostic criteria, assessment and extent. Neuropsychiatry, 7, 4–8. Pontes, H. M. & Griffiths, M. D. (2017). The development and psychometric evaluation of the internet disorder scale (IDS-15). Addict Behav., 64, 261-268.
51. Rana, J., P. L. Gutierrez, and J. C. Oldroyd. (2020). “Quantitative methods,” in global encyclopedia of public administration. International Publishing.
52. Rahmani, F., Sanjari Moghaddam, H., & Aarabi, M. H. (2019). Microstructural changes and internet addiction behaviour: A preliminary diffusion MRI study. Addictive Behaviors, 98, 1-6.
53. Samanta, P., Mohapatra, I., Mitra, R., Mishra, J., Mahapatra, P., Mohakud, N. K., Pattnaik, J. I., Behera, M. R., & Nanda, P. (2024). Mindfulness as a path to freedom from ınternet addiction in adolescents: A narrative review. Cureus, 16(10), 1-11.
54. Selçuk, N. (2024). Kurgusal evrende sosyal etkileşim ve sanal kaygı. Adıyaman Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi, (47), 761-796.
55. Sixto Costoya, A., Castell´o Cogollos, L., Aleixandre Benavent, R., & Valderrama Zuri´an, J. (2021). Global scientific production regarding behavioral addictions: An analysis of the literature from 1995 to 2019. Addictive Behaviors Reports, 7(14), 1-9.
56. Sun, Y., & Zhang, Y. (2021). A review of theories and models applied in studies of social media addiction and implications for future research. Addictive Behaviors, 114, 1-10.
57. Şenormancı, Ö., Konkan, R. ve Sungur, M., Z. (2012). Internet addiction and its cognitive behavioral therapy. Alpha Psychiatry 2010, 11(3), 261–268.
58. Siste, K., Hanafi, E., Adrian, Sen, L. T., Alison, P., & Beatrice, E. (2022). Online dialectical behavioral therapy for adults with internet addiction: A quasi-experimental trial during the COVID-19 pandemic. Psychiatry Research, 315, 1-7.
59. Taherdoost, H. (2022). Internet addiction; Symptoms, impacts and treatments. Journal of Addiction and Psychology 5(2), 1-3.
60. Theopilus, Y., Al Mahmud, A., Davis, H., & Octavia, J. R. (2024). Preventive interventions for internet addiction in young children: Systematic review. JMIR Mental Health, 11, 1-14.
61. Wang, H., Li, X., Lok, G. K. I., Meng, C., Tan, Y., Lee, U. M., Lei, L. S. M., & Chan, N. (2024). Family-based therapy for internet addiction among adolescents and young adults: A meta-analysis. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 13(2), 295–312.
62. World Health Organization, W. (2019). Addiction. EM/MNH/213/E, 1-4. https://iris.who.int/handle/10665/352202
63. Wölfling, K., Müller, K., W., Dreier. M., et al. (2019). Efficacy of short-term treatment of internet and computer game addiction: A randomized clinical trial. Jamapsychiatry, 76(10), 1018–1025.
64. Xu, L. X., Wu, L. L., Geng, X. M., Wang, Z. L., Guo, X. Y., Song, K. R., Liu, G. Q., Deng, L. Y., Zhang, J. T., & Potenza, M. N. (2021). A review of psychological interventions for internet addiction. Psychiatry research, 302, 1-13.
65. Yan, Y., Qin, X., Liu, L., Zhang, W., & Li, B. (2025). Effects of exercise interventions on internet addiction among college students: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Addictive behaviors, 160, 1-14.
66. Yılmaz, M. B. (2019). Bilgisayar oyunlarındaki şiddet öğesinin üniversite öğrencilerinin tutumlarına yönelik etkisi: İnönü Üniversitesi örneği. Selçuk İletişim, 12(2), 604-629.
67. Young, K., S. (1996). Internet addiction: The emergence of a new clinical disorder. Cyberpsychology and Behavior, 1(3), 237-244
68. Young, K., S. (1999). Internet addiction: Symptoms, evaluation, and treatment. L. VandeCreek & T. L. Jackson (Eds.). Professional Resource Press.
69. Young K. S. (2007). Cognitive behavior therapy with Internet addicts: Treatment outcomes and implications. Cyberpsychology & Behavior, 10(5), 671–679.
70. Young, K. S., & Brand, M. (2017). Merging theoretical models and therapy approaches in the context of internet gaming disorder: A personal perspective. Frontiers İn Psychology, 8, 1853.
71. Yue Qıu, Kun, L. & Yuanzhe L. (2023). Association between internet addiction and substance abuse: a literature survey for early detection and treatment, 9th International Symposium on Social Science, https://dpi-journals.com/index.php/dtssehs/article/view/36069/0
72. Yumru Menteş, H., & Koç, Ş. (2025). Effects of a nurse-led play-based internet addiction prevention program in early adolescents: A randomized controlled study. Archives Of Psychiatric Nursing, 55, 1-10.