Prevalence of excessive internet use and its correlation with associated psychopathology in 11th and 12th grade students

Background Globally, the number of internet users has crossed the three-billion mark, while in India users grew over 17% in the first 6 months of 2015 to 354 million. This study presented a background on internet use and the existence of excessive internet use. Aim To study the extent of internet use in 11th and 12th grade students and the psychopathology, if any, associated with excessive internet use. Methods 426 students who met the inclusion criteria were recruited from 11 th and 12th grade classes from Kendriya Vidyalaya, New Delhi, India, and were assessed by Young's Internet Addiction Test and the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire. Results Among the 426 students, the mean internet addiction total score was 36.63 (20.78), which indicated mild level of internet addiction. 1.41%(six students) was diagnosed as excessive internet users, while 30.28% and 23.94% were classified as moderate and mild internet users, respectively. The prevalence of internet addiction between gender was 58.22% in males and 41.78% in females. While both positive (prosocial) and negative (hyperactivity, emotional, conduct and peer problem) impacts of internet use were reported by students, in the current study excessive use of internet had a negative impact on students' lives as compared with positive impact, which was statistically significant (p<0.0001). Conclusion Excessive internet use led to abnormal behaviours which cause negative consequences to users. Early diagnosis of risk factors related to excessive internet use, provides education about responsible use and supervision of students by family members.

Schizophrenia with and without obsessive-compulsive symptoms:a comparative analysis of performance on trail making test and disability on WHOD AS

Background Presence of obsessive-compulsive symptoms(0CS)affects performance on tests of some cognitive functions,such as the trail making test(TMT),and may affect the level of disability in schizophrenia(SZ).Aim s The aim of the present study was to compare performance on TMT and disability on WHO Disability Assessment Schedule(WHODAS)in persons with SZ with and without 0CS in a cross-sectional study.Methods Persons with SZ(n=200)fulfilling DSM-V(Diagnostic and Statistical Manual)diagnostic criteria were assessed on Yale Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale(YB0CS)and divided into two groups based on presence or absence of OCS.TMT and WHODAS V.2.0 were applied.The two groups as a whole,as well as a subsample matched on age,gender and age of onset were compared.Results Out of 200 persons with SZ,37(18.5%)reported OCS.The OCS group took a significantly longer mean time to complete TMT-A(Z=-3.02,p=0.003)as well as TMT-B(Z=-3.551,p<0.001).Significant correlations were found between TMT-A and total YB0CS Scores(r=0.351,p=0.033),as well as TMT-A and YB0CS compulsion scores(r=0.404,p=0.013)but not with TMT-B Scores.The OCS group reported greater disability in all domains separately as well as on average WHODAS Scores(Z=-5.969,p<0.001).Significant correlations were found between YB0CS obsession scores and YBOCS total scores with average WHODAS Scores(r=0.614,p<0.001 and r=0.406,p=0.013,respectively).We obtained essentially similar results with the matched subsample as well as with the entire group.Conclusion Persons with SZ and comorbid OCS had significantly poorer performance on TMTs and greater disability in comparison to persons with SZ alone.Magnitude of disability correlated with severity of OCS.