Effects of a Manualized Short-term Treatment of Internet and Computer Game Addiction

Inclusion Criteria: * clinical diagnosis of internet or computer game addiction * internet or computer game addiction according to the AICA-Checklist(Assessment of Internet and Computer game addiction, expert Rating) * a score \>/= 7 in the AICA-S (Assessment of Internet and Computer game addiction, Self Rating) * patients with primary diagnoses of internet or computer game addiction * if currently on psychotropic medications, no change in medications and dosages in the past 2 months and during STICA treatment * if currently off all psychotropic medications, patient has been off at least 4 weeks * at least 4 weeks off from last psychotherapy and no other ongoing psychotherapy Exclusion Criteria: * current Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) \< 40 * severe major depression (BDI-II Score \>/= 29) * current alcohol or drug addictions * personality disorders: borderline, antisocial, schizoid and schizotypal * lifetime diagnoses of schizophrenia, schizoaffective, bipolar or organic mental disorder * current unstable medical illness