Anja Bischof

• PhD
• Researcher at University of Lübeck

Aim: This guideline provides evidence-based recommendations for the treatment of General Internet Use Disorder (IUD), a behavioural addiction characterized by excessive and compulsive internet use. General IUD is prevalent, particularly among younger individuals, with varying rates across different age groups. Methods: Due to the relatively young r...

Aim: Social Networking Sites Use Disorder (SNSUD) has been discussed to represent a subtype of internet use disorders. While there is sound evidence for their prevalence in the German general population, patients seeking treatment for this specific disorder are still under-represented in the specific health care system. Yet, individuals meeting dia...

Background: Men consume more pornography than women and are more likely to lose control of their pornography consumption. This can lead to pornography use disorder, which can be diagnosed under either compulsive sexual behavior disorder or behavioral addictions (other specified disorders due to addictive behaviours, 6C5Y) in ICD-11. Aim: This artic...

Introduction: (Online-)Shopping disorder can be understood as a specific internet use disorder or the virtual equivalent of offline compulsive buying-shopping disorder. This article summarizes treatment recommendations for shopping disorder in accordance with the German Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Internet Use Disorders. Methods:...

Aim: Empirical evidence suggests that Internet Use Disorders (IUDs) can be considered as disorders due to addictive behaviors that are related to impairment and are of clinical relevance. Currently, no guidelines following a standardised methodology are available. Methods: Based on a narrative review, the evidence supporting guidelines for IUDs is...

Aim: Compared to other specific Internet use disorders, gaming disorder (GD) has the highest occurrence in treatment settings, is the best researched and is the only one recognized as a diagnostic entity within the framework of the ICD-11. Accordingly, initial guidelines can be derived from the current state of research on the treatment of GD. Meth...

Aim: This paper aims to report comprehensive, evidence-based guidelines for screening and diagnosing Internet Use Disorders (IUDs), including subtypes such as Gaming Disorder, Social Network Use Disorder, Pornography Use Disorder, and Shopping Disorder. Methods: Guidelines are derived from a review of the literature up to November 2021 and expert c...

Introduction: Early interventions targeting individuals with initial symptoms of Internet use disorders have the potential to prevent disorder escalation and reduce first symptoms. Given that Internet use disorders, including gaming disorder and social network use disorder, often emerge during adolescence, early interventions for children and adole...

Purpose: This two-arm cluster randomized controlled trial evaluated the effectiveness of an app-based addiction prevention program in German vocational school students. Methods: Schools from 5 German federal states were recruited. No eligibility criteria for classes were applied; enrollment decisions were made by school heads or teachers. Students...

Although there is consensus that a substantial number of individuals are affected by the addiction-type problems of family members, there has not yet been a mutually agreed prevalence estimate of the dimension of the problem. It can be assumed that the number of addiction-affected family members (AFMs) outweighs the number of individuals with addic...

Gender plays a significant role when it comes to health and psychological burden and this chapter provides an overview of the research on gender differences in family members of individuals with an addiction. Nevertheless, studies that compare stress, strain and coping strategies between female and male addiction-affected family members are scarce....

Although symptoms and consequences of addiction-type problems show great variation according to the substance/behaviour used (i.e. regarding toxicity, legal consequences, stigmatization, etc.), few studies have examined the impact of type of addiction on family members. This chapter is a narrative review of quantitative and qualitative studies that...

Zusammenfassung Hintergrund Während ein negativer Zusammenhang von Selbststigmatisierung auf die Abstinenzbezogene Selbstwirksamkeitserwartung bei Patientinnen und Patienten mit einer Alkoholgebrauchsstörung Gut belegt ist, fehlen entsprechen-de Befunde bei Abhängigkeit von illegalen Substanzen. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurde untersucht, wie Selb...

BACKGROUND Digital interventions have been successfully used to address addictive behaviors, such as substance use, in adolescents and young adults. However, maintaining engagement remains a challenge for digital substance use interventions. There is limited evidence on the determinants of engagement with multiple behavioral interventions among voc...

The present work aims to shed light on the question of whether certain psychological characteristics go along with choosing an e-coach offer to support healthy Internet use when reporting elevated Internet Use Disorder (IUD) tendencies. Data were from a large-scale stepped care approach study to treat persons with varying degrees of IUD tendencies....

This article examines the implementation, participation rates, and potential determinants of participation in the digital addiction prevention program “ready4life.” A two-arm cluster-randomized trial recruited German vocational students via class-based strategies. Intervention group received 16 weeks of in-app coaching; the control group received h...

Purpose of Review The early detection of problematic Internet use (PIU) is essential to prevent the development of Internet use disorders (IUD). Although a variety of screening tools have already been developed and validated for this purpose, yet a consensus about optimal IUD assessment is still lacking. In this systematic review, we (i) describe t...

BACKGROUND Vocational school students exhibit a high prevalence of addictive behaviors. Digital prevention programs targeting multiple addictive behaviors and promoting life skills are promising. Tailoring intervention content to participants’ preferences, such as allowing them to choose behavior modules, may increase engagement and efficacy. Howev...

Zusammenfassung Abhängigkeitserkrankungen sind mit hohen Belastungen für das soziale Umfeld verbunden. Während bereits seit den 1950er-Jahren Risiken für Kinder aus suchtbelasteten Familien anerkannt und untersucht wurden, wurde der Blick auf erwachsene Angehörige von Menschen mit Abhängigkeitserkrankungen in Versorgung und Populärpsychologie lange...

Aims The present study investigated the potential links between Internet Use Disorder tendencies, well-being and the impact of COVID-19 on Internet usage patterns. Method A sample of 2498 participants filled out the Compulsive Internet Use Scale (CIUS), the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS; the cognitive facet of well-being) and the Sofalizing S...

Introduction: Previous studies analyzing friendships with people only known through the Internet mainly focused on quantitative aspects (e.g., the number of online friends or the time spent with them). Little is known about the perceived quality of online compared to real-life friends in individuals with an Internet use disorder (IUD). This study...

Background: Vocational students have an increased risk to engage in health-risk behaviors compared to same-aged peers. To date, evidence-based digital prevention approaches that address multiple health-risk behaviors are rare. Method: The randomized-controlled trial (RCT) “Prevention of at-risk substance and Internet use disorders among vocational...

Importance Children and adolescents spend considerable time on the internet, which makes them a highly vulnerable group for the development of problematic usage patterns. A variety of screening methods have already been developed and validated for social network use disorder (SNUD); however, a systematic review of SNUD in younger age groups has not...

Background: The present study compared adult usage patterns of online activities, the frequency rate of problematic internet use (PIU), and risk factors (including the psychopathology associated with PIU, i.e., distress and impulsivity) among adults in 15 countries from Europe, America, and Asia. Methods: A total of 5130 adults from Belgium, Fin...

Introduction: Excessive internet use can lead to problems for some individuals. The WHO has introduced Gaming Disorder in the International Classification of Diseases-11 (ICD-11). Previous research has shown that other internet applications can cause serious mental health problems as well. It is important to provide measures of prevention, early i...

Aims: The problematic use of social networks is discussed as a further specific type of Internet-use disorders. Our project aims to clarify whether social-networks-use disorder (SNUD) is marked by characteristics of addictive behaviors by tracking behavior and investigating the relevance of 1) implicit cognitions, 2) the experiences of gratificatio...

Background Adolescents and young adults (AYA) have an increased risk for Internet use disorders (IUD) compared to older individuals that may lead to functional impairments in daily life. To date, evidence-based brief interventions are lacking. This study aimed to test the efficacy of a low-threshold counseling approach based on Motivational Intervi...

Background Despite the constant publication of new screening instruments for Internet use disorders (IUD), little is known about their content validity. This study aimed to identify potential mismatches between the items' intention and young adults' interpretation of these items when answering three screening instruments that are commonly used in r...

Aims: To estimate the prevalence of family members affected by addictive disorders (FMA) with regard to various types of addictive disorders, and self-rated health and depression in the general population. Design: Cross-sectional general population survey. Setting: The "German Health Update" study GEDA 2014/2015, a nationally representative pa...

Aim: Studies on brief interventions for Internet use disorders (IUD) are lacking. In this pilot study we tested the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of an approach applying Motivational Interviewing and elements of cognitive behavioral therapy. Methods: Clients in four job centers and the job agency in Lübeck, Germany, were approached for a pro...

Very few general population studies have analyzed the associations of age and gender with several aspects of gambling in Germany. Internationally, conflicting results have been found. Additionally, a decrease in age of onset of gambling was found in the USA but could not yet be demonstrated for Germany. We close these gaps, using data from the 2010...

Background and aims An increasing number of people experience negative consequences from the excessive use of different Internet applications or sites (e.g., Instagram, League of Legends, YouTube). These consequences have been referred to as specific Internet Use Disorders (IUDs). The present study aims to examine the Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) on...

Zusammenfassung. Fragestellung: Es existiert eine Vielzahl von Begriffen für Verhaltenssüchte, die Mängel in Operationalisierung, Bezug zum Verhalten, Kompatibilität mit internationalen Klassifikationen sowie nicht stigmatisierender Nutzung aufweisen. Daher werden einheitliche Begriffe für Verhaltenssüchte benötigt. Methode: Im Rahmen einer Leitlin...

Objective: Increased impulsiveness is a risk factor for health-endangering behavior patterns. Little is known about whether increased impulsiveness is associated with Internet Use Disorder (IUD) and whether individuals with various main activities on the internet differ in their levels of impulsiveness. Methods: In total, we screened 8,230 vocation...

Zusammenfassung Eine 2020 veröffentlichte, aktualisierte Cochrane-Analyse zu Anonymen Alkoholikern und 12-Schritte Programmen zur Behandlung alkoholbezogener Störungen schreibt diesen Interventionsformen eine bessere Evidenz gegenüber etablierten psychotherapeutischen Verfahren zu. Der Beitrag stellt zentrale Befunde des Reviews vor und überprüft d...

Background: Motivational factors in health-relevant modes of behavior are an important matter in medical practice. Motivational interviewing (MI) is a technique that has been specifically developed to help motivate ambivalent patients to change their behavior. Methods: This review is based on pertinent publications retrieved by a selective search i...

Zusammenfassung. Fragestellung: Angehörige von Suchtkranken stellen eine belastete substantielle Gruppe dar, die in Forschung und Versorgung unzureichend repräsentiert ist. Es liegen bislang keine wissenschaftlichen Zahlen zu den Auswirkungen der durch die Covid-19 Pandemie verursachten sozialen Einschränkungen auf Belastungen und Versorgungsangebo...

Cognitive distortions are assumed to play an important role in the trajectories of Gambling Disorder. Additionally, migration background has been identified as a crucial risk factor for the development of Gambling Disorder. However, longitudinal data on cognitive distortions in gamblers are rare and so are data on the long-term development of Gambl...

Zusammenfassung Ziel Abhängigkeit und Missbrauch von verschreibungspflichtigen Medikamenten sind prävalente Störungen, die durch das Suchthilfesystem kaum erreicht werden. Verfahren zur frühen Erkennung von Betroffenen in medizinischen Settings könnte zu einer Verbesserung der Versorgung beitragen, wobei entsprechende Screeningverfahren unzureichen...

Background Previous studies have shown that particular types of gambling are related to the development of gambling-related problems. Further, gambling-related cognitive distortions contribute to the development of disordered gambling. The aim of the present study is to compare different gambling types with respect to cognitive distortions and the...

Most individuals with a lifetime history of pathological gambling (PGs) overcome their gambling problems without formal help. Little is known about factors associated with recovery in gamblers without treatment. The aim of this study was to examine associations of psychiatric comorbidity and social conditions with remission among untreated PGs. Two...

Motivationale Aspekte spielen in der Therapie von adipösen Kindern und Jugendlichen eine entscheidende Rolle. Die aktuelle Leitlinie zur Behandlung von Adipositas im Kindes- und Jugendalter empfiehlt eine Überprüfung der Motivationslage vor Beginn einer Patientenschulung, um unnötige Frustrationserlebnisse und hohe Kosten im Gesundheitssystem durch...

Studien deuten darauf hin, dass Personen mit Internetbezogenen Störungen kognitive Verzerrungen hinsichtlich der subjektiven Bedeutsamkeit virtueller gegenüber realer Freunde aufweisen. Bislang ist unklar, inwiefern dies mit der wahrgenommenen sozialen Unterstützung im realen Leben und psychischer Komorbidität zusammenhängt. In der PINTA-DIARI Stud...

The 14-item Compulsive Internet Use Scale (CIUS) is one of the most frequently internationally adapted psychometric instruments developed to assess generalized problematic Internet use. Multiple adaptations of this instrument have led to versions in different languages (e.g., Arabic and French), and different numbers of items (e.g., from 5 to 16 it...

Background and aims: The diagnosis "Internet Gaming Disorder" (IGD) has been included in the fifth edition of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. However, the nine criteria have not been sufficiently reviewed for their diagnostic value. This study focuses on a broader approach of Internet addiction (IA) including other Internet...

Zusammenfassung Suizidalität ist bei Menschen mit pathologischem Glücksspiel ein weit verbreitetes Phänomen. Risikofaktoren für Suizidalität sind bei Menschen mit Glücksspielproblemen in hohem Maße anzutreffen. Zudem gibt es Hinweise darauf, dass pathologisches Glücksspiel selbst einen Risikofaktor für Suizidgedanken und -versuche darstellt. Diese...

Background and aims: Deficits in emotion regulation (ER) are associated with mental disorders. To date, there are hardly any studies focusing on the role of ER strategies in the context of gambling behavior. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between specific ER strategies and pathological as well as problematic gambling in a...

Background and aims Internet Addiction (IA) has consistently been related to comorbid psychiatric disorders and lowered self-esteem. However, most studies relied on self-report questionnaires using non-representative samples. This study aims to analyze the relative impact of self-esteem and comorbid psychopathology with lifetime IA in a population-...

Purpose of Review Gaming disorder (GD) is considered as a condition related to severe functional impairment, and its prevalence reaches meaningful proportions of the general population in many countries. Besides treatment and prevention, early interventions could play a major role to curb this rising public health concern. This review summarizes th...

Mini-Review: Überwindung von Glücksspielstörung und problematischem Glücksspielen ohne Behandlung Abstract. Zusammenfassung: Ziel: Eine Reihe von Studien konnte zeigen, dass im Bereich der substanzbezogenen Störungen Remissionen ohne formelle Hilfe weitverbreit sind. Weniger ist dazu im Bereich von Verhaltenssüchten bekannt. Ziel ist eine Übers...

Hintergrund: Das von Aaron Antonovsky postulierte Kohärenzgefühl (engl. Sense of Coherence) als zentraler Bestandteil des Modells der Salutogenese erlangte viel Aufmerksamkeit, insbesondere in Studien, die sich mit Prävention und Gesundheitsförderung beschäftigen. Während ein starkes Kohährenzgefühl als Schutzfaktor für verschiedenes gesundheitsrel...

Problematic and pathological gambling have emerged as substantial problems in many countries. One potential accelerating factor for this phenomenon during recent years is the Internet, which offers different kinds of games and online applications for gambling that are faster, more attractive due to a variety of design and marketing options, less co...

Zusammenfassung. Hintergrund: Internationale Studien belegen eine erhöhte gesundheitsbezogene Morbidität bei Angehörigen von Suchtkranken. Ziel der Studie ist die Einschätzung des Ausmaßes des Problems und von Belastungsmaßen bei Angehörigen außerhalb des Suchthilfesystems in Deutschland. Methodik: In Arztpraxen und Allgemeinkrankenhäusern wurden k...

The prevalence of mobile phone use across the world has increased greatly over the past two decades. Problematic Mobile Phone Use (PMPU) has been studied in relation to public health and comprises various behaviours, including dangerous, prohibited, and dependent use. These types of problematic mobile phone behaviours are typically assessed with th...

Background and aims Symptoms of pathological gambling (SPG) and depression often co-occur. The nature of this relationship remains unclear. Rumination, which is well known to be associated with depression, might act as a common underlying factor explaining the frequent co-occurrence of both conditions. The aim of this study is to analyze associatio...

Introduction A strong sense of coherence (SOC) is associated with less risk-taking behavior and more health-orientated behavior. To date, there is a lack of studies focusing on the role of SOC in the context of behavioral addictions. The aim of the present study is to investigate the association between SOC and pathological gambling as well as Inte...

The addiction treatment system only reaches a small number of individuals suffering from Internet-related disorders. Therefore, it is important to improve case detection for preventive measures and brief interventions. Existing screening instruments are often time-consuming and rarely validated using clinical criteria. The aim of this study is to d...

Zusammenfassung. Hintergrund: Suchterkrankungen verursachen hohe Kosten für die Gesellschaft und beträchtliches Leid bei Betroffenen und deren Familien. Das Suchthilfesystem leistet eine hervorragende Arbeit und erreicht diejenigen, die Behandlung aufsuchen, gut und effizient. Die Mehrheit der Suchtkranken – je nach konsumiertem Suchtstoff in unter...

Background and aims: Despite many positive benefits, mobile phone use can be associated with harmful and detrimental behaviors. The aim of this study was twofold: to examine (a) cross-cultural patterns of perceived dependence on mobile phones in ten European countries, first, grouped in four different regions (North: Finland and UK; South: Spain an...

Background and aims Data on Internet addiction (IA) and its association with personality disorder are rare. Previous studies are largely restricted to clinical samples and insufficient measurement of IA. Methods Cross-sectional analysis data are based on a German sub-sample (n = 168; 86 males; 71 meeting criteria for IA) with increased levels of e...

Objective: To investigate the extent to which the presence and number of symptoms of pathological gambling (PG), distinguished by region of origin (RO), differ. Methods: Data was obtained from a nationwide telephone survey of 15 023 individuals living in Germany and aged 14–64 years. They were categorized according to their RO and the number of sym...

Background: Pathological gambling is a behavioural addiction with negative economic, social, and psychological consequences. Identification of contributing genes and pathways may improve understanding of aetiology and facilitate therapy and prevention. Here, we report the first genome-wide association study of pathological gambling. Our aims were...

Zusammenfassung. Hintergrund: Internetbezogene Storungen stellen noch ein recht junges Phanomen dar. Es besteht die Notwendigkeit auf diese neuen Storungsbilder zu reagieren und Ziele fur Behandlung und Versorgung sowie Forschung und Politik zu setzen. Das vorliegende Memorandum fasst den Stand der Erkenntnisse zusammen und formuliert entsprechende...

Correspondence to: Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy Center of Mental Health Hannover Medical School (MHH) Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1 30625 Hannover, Germany. Tel.: +49 511 532 6561; fax: +49 511 532 2415.

Individuals with pathological gambling have an increased risk for suicidal events. Additionally, the prevalence of comorbid psychiatric disorders is high among pathological gamblers. This study analyzes whether the type of gambling is associated with suicidal events in pathological gamblers independently from comorbidity. Participants were recruite...

Behavioural addictions are highly prevalent in specific subgroups and have a major individual and societal impact. Moreover, given the availability and increase of potentially addictive activities in our societal development(e.g. internet, gaming, online pornography) an increase in these types of behavioural disorders is very likely. Gambling Disor...

Consumption measures in gambling research may help to establish thresholds of low-risk gambling as 1 part of evidence-based responsible gambling strategies. The aim of this study is to replicate existing Canadian thresholds of probable low-risk gambling (Currie et al., 2006) in a representative dataset of German gambling behavior (Pathological Gamb...