Clinical Trials Logo

Clinical Trial Summary

Smartphones have become a part of our daily life, the number of people using smartphones is increasing day after day. Easy access to internet is the main advantage of smartphones in comparison to traditional mobile phones, so they are considered as handheld convenient substitutes to computers. People use smartphones for many different purposes such as communication, entertainment, browsing for information, education or business facilitation. Unfortunately the excessive use of smartphones makes people 'addicted' to that type of technology. Past research has shown that older people have less positive attitudes towards a variety of technologies and they are less likely than younger people to embrace new technology, so It seems that the problem of smartphones addiction is most likely to affect young people who are fascinated with new technologies.


Clinical Trial Description

What is smartphones addiction? The concept of smartphones addiction is not proposed yet for inclusion in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) as non-substance-related disorder but it can be considered one type of technological addictions which were operationally defined by Griffiths as non-chemical (behavioral) addictions which involve human-machine interaction and usually contain inducing and reinforcing features which may contribute to the promotion of addictive tendencies.

Furthermore, Recent work by Lin, et al identified the criteria for diagnosis smartphones addiction as following:

A. Behavioral criteria (3 or more should be present):

1. Preoccupation with smartphone use, and hence keeping smartphone available all day

2. Recurrent failure to resist the impulse to use the smartphone

3. Tolerance: a markedly increase in the duration of smartphone use is needed to achieve satisfaction

4. Withdrawal: as manifested by a dysphoric mood, anxiety and/or irritability after a period without smartphone use

5. Smartphone use for a period longer than intended

6. Persistent desire and/or unsuccessful attempts to cut down or reduce smartphone use

7. Excessive smartphone use and/or time spent on leaving the use

8. Continued excessive smartphone use despite knowledge of having a persistent or recurrent physical or psychological problems caused by smartphone use

B. Functional impairment criteria (2 or more criteria should be present):

1. Excessive use resulting in persistent or recurrent physical or psychological problems

2. Use in a physically hazardous situations (such as while driving or crossing the street) or situations that have other negative impacts on daily life

3. Use that impairs social relationships or performance at school or work

4. Use that is very time-consuming or causes significant distress C. Exclusion criteria Addictive behavior is not associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder or bipolar disorder

Factors associated with smartphones addiction:

- There are many psychological factors related to smartphones addiction such as anxiety, stress, poor social and family relationship, depression, loneliness, shyness, degree of self-esteem and satisfaction with life.

- Studies have also shown the adverse effects of smartphones addiction on quality of sleep, physical activity and academic performance.

- Smartphones addiction also have harmful physical consequences like headache, blurred vision, neck and shoulder pain and impairment of hand function.

Size of problem:

Prevalence of smartphones addiction in young people varies among countries as shown by studies: 29.6% in Saudi Arabia, 44.6% in Lebanon,16.9% in Switzerland, 21.3% in China and 31.33% in India.

-there is no available data about the size of this of this problem in Egypt so investigators need to conduct this study to determine the prevalence of smartphones addiction among young people and it adverse effect on different aspects. ;


Study Design


Related Conditions & MeSH terms


NCT number NCT03260296
Study type Observational
Source Assiut University
Contact Hosnia Said, MD
Phone +201062170293
Email hosniasa@yahoo.com
Status Not yet recruiting
Phase N/A
Start date October 2018
Completion date October 2019

See also
  Status Clinical Trial Phase
Terminated NCT03576768 - QuitFast: Evaluating Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation as a Tool to Reduce Smoking Directly Following a Quit Attempt N/A
Completed NCT04110626 - Realistic Evaluation of Expériences Animées, a School-based Intervention in Nouvelle Aquitaine
Completed NCT03007940 - Using NIATx Strategies to Implement Integrated Services in Routine Care N/A
Not yet recruiting NCT04030858 - The INFINITE Study: A Prospective Investigation of a Nutrient-dense Diet in Early Addiction Recovery N/A
Completed NCT03347643 - The Effectiveness of tDCS on Internet Game Addiction Phase 2
Active, not recruiting NCT02836080 - Integrated Collaborative Care Teams for Youth With Mental Health and/or Addiction Challenges (YouthCan IMPACT) N/A
Completed NCT03221985 - ESM Pilot: Mobile Phones and Psychology N/A
Completed NCT02556060 - Lamotrigine for Ketamine Dependence Trial Phase 2/Phase 3
Completed NCT01531153 - Cognitive Enhancement as a Target for Cocaine Pharmacotherapy N/A
Completed NCT02812810 - Evaluation of the Efficacy of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) Low-frequency on Craving in Smoking Dependence N/A
Recruiting NCT05976646 - Phase Ib/2a Drug-drug Interaction Study of a Combination of 45mg Dextromethorphan With 105 mg Bupropion Phase 1/Phase 2
Completed NCT04409106 - The Turkish Version of the Parental Smartphone Use Management Scale (PSUMS)
Recruiting NCT05595759 - Violence Against Women in Patients With Alcohol Substance Addiction Training N/A
Completed NCT04099173 - A Brief Mindfulness-Based Intervention for Suicidal Ideation N/A
Recruiting NCT04959643 - Systematic Screening for Viral Hepatitis B and C at the PASS Consultation of the Montpellier University Hospital
Completed NCT04133688 - Mobile App in Addiction N/A
Recruiting NCT04063267 - Electronic Cigarettes as a Harm Reduction Strategy in Individuals With Substance Use Disorder Phase 2
Completed NCT05114577 - Recovery Sleepers: A Pilot Study of a Sleep Health Intervention for College Students in Recovery N/A
Terminated NCT02671240 - Prognosis of Behavioral Addiction in Parkinson's Disease
Not yet recruiting NCT03813095 - Exploratory Dose Ranging Study Assessing APH-1501 for the Treatment of Opioid Addiction Phase 2