Boysan, Murat; Eşkisu, Mustafa; Çam, Zekeriya

Objective: Most of the theoretical models of addictive behaviors of Internet use based on the social cognitive model and suggested that Internet addiction is associated with a deficit in self-monitoring and self-regulation. On the other hand, researches have consistently reported associations between addictive Internet behaviors and a tendency to dissociate in clinical and non-clinical samples. Given the accumulating evidence in the literature, dissociative experiences may be a predisposing factor in the formation and perseverance of maladaptive use of the Internet. Within this context, the present study introduces a new psychometric instrument, the Van Online Dissociative Experiences Schedule (VODES), designed to assess online dissociative experiences. Method: Seven hundred eighteen undergraduates (71.7% were female) volunteered to participate in the study. The mean age of the sample was 20.69 (SD ± 2.14). Participants completed the Van Online Dissociative Experiences Schedule (VODES) and Chen Internet Addiction Scale (CIAS). Results: The result of principal components analysis showed that the four-factor (Identity confusion, Escapism/Detachment, Impairment in reality monitoring/Absorption, and Losing the sense of reality) solution explained 60.34% of the variance. Confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated that the four-factor model excellently fit data, and all items of the VODES loaded strongly (0.53 to 0.86) onto the respective latent factors. Moreover, VODES had excellent internal reliability (αs= 0.93 to 0.98) and test-retest reliability (r= 0.79 to 0.90). In addition, all four dimensions of the VODES were strongly associated with the addictive use of Internet. Conclusions: This study showed that VODES is a promising and sound measure of online dissociation.

Yildirim, Arzu; Hacihasanoǧlu, Rabia

Objectives: This study aimed to identify potential association between demographic factors, clinical characteristics and anxiety and depression levels of patients hospitalized in internal medicine and surgical clinics. Method: This descriptive cross-sectional study was performed with 298 inpatients at Erzincan State Hospital's internal diseases and surgical units within March 2006 and May 2006. Inclusion criteria comprised of being at the age of 18 or over, being able to communicate and cooperate with the researchers, having been hospitalized for at least 2 nights, being conscious, and not to having any severe pain. The data were collected using descriptive questionnaire and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The data were analyzed using the Independent Samples t-tests, analysis of variance, Kruskall Wallis and Pearson correlation tests. Findings: According to HADS scores, it was determined that 36.6% of the patients had symptoms of anxiety, while 61.4% of the patients had symptoms of depressed, and despite the high prevalence of anxiety and depression and the only 16 (5.5%) patients were referred for psychiatric consultation. There were no significant differences in scores of anxiety and depression among different education levels, marital status, and duration of hospitalization. Discussion: In this study, a very high number of hospitalized patients require psychiatric evaluation for anxiety and depression. Depression and anxiety are common in medical patients and are associated with diminished health status and increased health care utilization. However, many physicians pay more attention to physical problems than psychological problems. Nurses can assist patients in acquiring new methods of coping with anxiety and depression through learning.