It really is amazing to consider the different things that can be addictive. While substances such as alcohol, drugs and nicotine are well-known for their addictive qualities, other elements may not be so obvious. One growing area of addiction is that of Internet users and for adolescents, the problem is worse if they also suffer from ADHD.

Science Daily recently published a release that highlighted the impact ADHD (Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), social phobia, hostility and depression can have on an individual’s Internet habits. According to recent research, such psychiatric conditions in an adolescent indicate a greater chance of developing an Internet addiction.

Such an addiction can greatly impact school performance, family relationships and an adolescents’ emotional state. In previous studies, it has been found that 1.4 percent to 17.9 percent of adolescents are addicted to the Internet in both Western and Eastern societies.

Chih-Hung Ko, M.D., of Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital and Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan, and colleagues examined the impact that psychiatric conditions can have on an adolescent. They studied the relationship between symptoms such as ADHD, social phobia and hostility and Internet addiction in 2,293 seventh-graders.

Among the participants, 10.8 percent were classified as having an Internet addiction and 89.2 percent were classified as not having this addiction. While a relationship was identified between psychiatric symptoms and Internet addiction, the former only seemed to predict the latter in female adolescents. The most significant predictors appeared to be hostility and ADHD.

“These results suggest that ADHD, hostility, depression and social phobia should be detected early on and intervention carried out to prevent Internet addiction in adolescents,” the authors said in Science Daily.. “Also, sex differences in psychiatric comorbidity should be taken into consideration when developing prevention and intervention strategies for Internet addiction.”