Internet Addiction: Medical History

Medical history (history of illness) represents an important component in the diagnosis of Internet addiction.

Family history

  • What is the general health of your family members?
  • Are there any common mental disorders in your family?
  • What is your father’s profession?
  • What is the profession of your mother?

Social history

  • Is there any evidence of psychosocial stress or strain due to your family situation?

Current medical history/systemic history (somatic and psychological complaints).

  • How many hours is your daily time budget that you have in addition to your job (school, work)? (Please indicate as number of hours)
    • How many hours a day do you spend on the internet?
    • How many hours a day do you listen to music?
    • What is the total time spent in front of the screen of an electronic device?
  • Have you ever tried to reduce the amount of internet use? If so, have you succeeded in doing so? (Please specify the number of hours reduced)
  • Is there a psychological craving for internet use?
  • Have you found that you have an increasing need to use the Internet lately?
  • Have you found that spending time on the Internet makes you neglect other things? Neglect of:
    • Friends?
    • Hobbies?
    • Obligations (e.g. school, job)?
  • If you have temporarily already had to stop using the Internet for an extended period of time, then the following complaints have occurred:
    • Restlessness? Nervousness?
    • Dissatisfaction?
    • Irritability?
    • Aggressiveness?
  • Are you more of a loner?
  • What time do you usually go to bed? What time do you get up? (Total bedtime) [should not significantly exceed total sleep episode].
  • What is the total time from falling asleep to waking up for the last time (total sleep episode)? [Normal value in older age: 6 to 8 hours]
  • What is the time between extinguishing the light and the appearance of the first sleep signs? (Latency to fall asleep) [Normal value in older age: less than 30 minutes]
  • Do you have frequent infections?
  • Do you have back pain?

Vegetative anamnesis including nutritional anamnesis.

  • Do you sleep regularly and sufficiently?
  • Are you overweight? Please tell us your body weight (in kg) and height (in cm).
  • Do you eat breakfast regularly?
  • Do you skip meals?
  • Do you eat a balanced diet?
  • Do you like to drink coffee, black and green tea? If so, how many cups per day?
  • Do you drink other or additional caffeinated beverages? If so, how much of each?
  • Do you smoke? If yes, how many cigarettes, cigars or pipes per day?
  • Do you drink alcohol? If yes, what drink(s) and how many glasses per day?
  • Do you use drugs? If yes, what drugs and how often per day or per week?

Self history incl. medication history.