• Yen-Jung Huang, Tsung-Jen Kao, Wei Chen, Shiow-Jinq Yao, and Chia-Lung Shih.
• Goodnews Biblical Counseling Center, Ditmanson Medical Foundation Chia-Yi Christian Hospital, Chia-Yi City, Taiwan.
• Curr Med Res Opin. 2022 Jun 1; 38 (6): 1011-1017.

ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the effects of a psychological growth camp in the treatment of adolescents at risk of Internet addiction in Taiwan.MethodsWe designed a psychological growth camp to treat adolescents at risk of Internet addiction. The CIAS (Chen Internet Addiction Scale) was used to assess the severity of Internet addiction at baseline, immediately after the camp, and at 1-month and 2-month follow-up visits.ResultsA total of 16 participants were recruited, including 10 at risk of Internet addiction and 6 without the risk of Internet addiction. The results indicated that the participants not in a 2-parent family had significantly higher CIAS scores than those in a 2-parent family (p = .034). The participants at risk of Internet addiction exhibited significant improvements in total CIAS score at the time immediately after the camp (p = .033) and at 1-month (p = .001) and 2-month (p = .003) follow-up visits. Moreover, the incidence of possible Internet addiction was not significantly decreased immediately after the camp (p = .056) but was significantly decreased at 1- and 2-month follow-up visits (p < .05) compared with the baseline level. Otherwise, no significant improvements in total CIAS score or subscales were observed at the follow-up visits (p > .05) for the participants not at risk of Internet addiction.ConclusionThe results indicate that the psychological growth camp without Internet might be effective in treating adolescents with Internet addiction.

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