Terapia de la adicción a Internet y videojuegos en niños y adolescentes

In this article the diagnostic criteria for addiction to Internet and videogames arerevised with respect to their application to children and adolescents. The mainassessment instruments existing to-date are discussed, as well as the associated riskfactors. The authors underline the need for early preventive measures, as well as forintegrated treatments for this type of disorders. These treatments have to consider notonly addiction itself but also other comorbid disorders, which are very frequent in youngpeople addicted to the Internet and videogames. The authors also insist that treatmenthas to be individualized, adapted to each case, flexible and multimodal, and aiming ata controlled use of the Internet applications, rather than abstinence, because thesetechnologies are necessary for a healthy adaptation to contemporary daily life.