For Information Contact: Eve Herold, 703-907-8640 press@psych.org Erin Connors, 703-907-8562 econnors@psych.

org

Embargoed Until: May 18, 2013 Release No. 13-40

Smartphone Overuse Growing and Harmful to Adolescents

San Francisco, CA (May 18, 2013) A recent study by Dr. Jonghun Lee, a Professor of Psychiatry at the Catholic University of Daegu School of Medicine, found that greater adolescents overuse smartphones, was associated with more severe psychopathologies. The study further concluded that the effects of smart-phone overuse were similar to those of Internet/computer overuse. The research, which will be presented Monday, May 20th at 12:30 p.m. at the APAs New Research Press Briefing in the Press Briefing room (258) at the Moscone Center South, showed that between 2009 and 2012 the number of smartphone users in Korea skyrocketed from 470,000 to almost 33 million, and smartphone use in children and youth ages 5-19 increased from 7.5% to 67% in just a two-year span. For the study, Dr. Lee divided 195 adolescents into four groups based on their level of smartphone and computer overuse. Using two different diagnostic surveys, Dr. Lee performed a detailed analysis of 11 different symptoms associated with smartphone overuse. These symptoms included withdrawal, somatic symptoms, depression/anxiety, thought problems, attention problems, delinquency, and aggression. Dr. Lees research poster will be presented on Sunday May 19th from 1:00pm - 3:00pm in the Moscone exhibit hall at the APA Annual meeting in San Francisco. Follow @APAPsychiatric and hashtag #APAAM13 to find out the latest Annual Meeting news. Like American Psychiatric Association on Facebook to receive Annual Meeting updates. The American Psychiatric Association is a national medical specialty society whose physician members specialize in the diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and research of mental illnesses, including substance use disorders. Visit the APA at www.psychiatry.org. ###