1. Introduction
psychiatric, DRKS00019925, addictive behavior
DISORDER, DISORDER, DISORDERS
These authors contributed equally to this work and share last authorship.Internet Use Disorders (IUD) have a relevant effect on national economies. In the randomized, controlled, multicenter, prospective, and single-blinded OMPRIS study (pre-registration number DRKS00019925; Innovation Fund of the Joint Federal Committee of Germany, grant number 01VSF18043), a four-week online program to reduce media addiction symptoms, was evaluated for cost-effectiveness. The intervention group (IG) was compared to a waiting control group (WCG) from German statutory health insurance (SHI) and a societal perspective. Resource use, namely indirect and direct (non) medical costs, was assessed by a standardized questionnaire at baseline and after the intervention. Additionally, intervention costs were calculated. Determining the Reliable Change Index (RCI) based on the primary outcome, assessed by the “Scale for the Assessment of Internet and Computer Game Addiction” (AICA-S), individuals with and without reliable change (RC) were distinguished. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was calculated using the difference-in-difference approach. There were 169 (IG Today, the Internet is ubiquitous, offering manifold options. However, along with it comes the risk of Internet Use Disorders (IUD), which describe addictive behavior in the field of online gaming, online pornography use, social networking and further Internet-related fields [An international meta-analysis determines a pooled prevalence for general IUD of 7.02% and a prevalence of online gaming addiction of 2.47% [Gaming addiction (including offline gambling) has relevant effects on the national economy. In Sweden, costs of 0.3% of the gross domestic product were calculated for 2018, with indirect costs accounting for the largest cost share at 59% [The OMPRIS study (online-based motivational intervention to reduce problematic Internet use and promote treatment motivation in Internet gaming disorder and Internet Use Disorder) aims to develop a program for treating IUD. Persons at risk were collected in a low-threshold service type via an online offer. During a four-week intervention, participants attended up to eight psychological remote sessions and up to two online conversations for social counseling. Before and after the intervention, detailed online-based diagnostics were conducted. The aim was to efficiently promote motivation to change behavior in order to achieve a reduction in media addiction symptoms and to avoid further addiction problems [From a health–economic perspective, a reduction in media addiction symptoms provides potential savings; for example, by avoiding or reducing psychiatric comorbidities or by possibly improving the participant’s ability to work, along with a reduction in days of incapacity for work and lower indirect costs for society. As part of the OMPRIS project, a cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) and a cost-utility analysis (CUA) evaluating the intervention compared to no intervention should be conducted. For this purpose, the health-related costs incurred by a person participating in the OMPRIS program compared to a person not participating were determined. In addition, the costs of the intervention and changes in IUD symptoms were taken into account, and a health-related quality-of-life analysis was conducted.