This exploratory, quantitative study investigated the prevalence rate of people with cooccurring substance-related and psychiatric disorders (CODs). A treatment-seeking sample from Houghton House Addiction Recovery Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa was used. Details of the case histories of the clients were collected, coded and analysed using Statistical Analysis System (SAS). The results indicated that 57.1% of 419 clients had one or more co-occurring psychiatric disorder, along with a substance-related disorder. Of the 239 with a COD, 155 had a mood disorder, 40 had an anxiety disorder, 39 had ADHD, 35 had an eating disorder, 8 had a conduct disorder and 5 had schizophrenia. Statistically significant relationships were found for ADHD with cannabis-related disorders and polysubstance dependence; anxiety-related disorders with alcohol-related disorders; and mood disorders with cocaine-related disorders, possibly substance-induced disorders and substance-induced disorders. These results showed that there was large group of people who presented for substance abuse treatment who have one or more COD. Having a COD made the nature of their problems particularly complex. There is a need for greater awareness of this vulnerable group. This would serve to improve the treatment that people with CODs receive.

The aim of this study was to create an understanding through qualitative interviews with treatment providers, how their way of behaving towards young boys with gaming addiction affects the treatment. More specifically its aim was to find out how treatment providers help boys to break their ongoing gaming addiction and what kind of difficulties they have experiences from. The study's empirical material was obtained through semi-structured interviews with six treatment providers with experience of gaming addiction. Three themes were identified: difficulties, working methods and therapeutic alliance. The analysis was based on two different kinds of perspectives: symbolic interactionism and Erving Goffman’s dramaturgical perspective. The first theme has highlighted the subject's complexity, perceptions and self-insight. The clearest result that emerged under the second theme is the importance of different types of conversations. The study shows that motivational interviewing has helped young boys gain insight into their situation. Prohibition is not an appropriate measure, however, restrictions are necessary. The main result that emerged from the third and last theme is that therapeutic alliance is an important basis for change.

Studien syftar på att belysa hur dataspel påverkar unga vuxna mäns beteende samt vilka för-och nackdelar det har på hälsan. Det kommer oftast upp negativa reaktioner på dataspel och dess effekter på hälsan. Forskning visar att våldsamma spel påverkar beteendet negativt och att det leder till ett aggressivt beteende. Det är sällan positiva aspekter som tas upp i studier av dataspel och mindre forskning om unga vuxna mäns upplevelser av dataspel. Målinriktat urval valdes i studien då sex unga vuxna män från Västerås ansågs vara relevant som målgrupp för att ta reda på för- och nackdelar med dataspel samt hur de upplever påverkar deras hälsa. Studien grundar sig på en kvalitativ metod där datainsamlingen skedde genom semistrukturerade intervjuer som utformning. Intervjuerna analyserades genom en manifest innehållsanalys. Resultatet visar på att utredarna upplevde att dataspel har både negativa och positiva konsekvenser beroende på varför man spelar. Dataspel enligt utredarna i studien är avkopplande och lugnande men det kan påverka kroppen kortsiktigt. Slutsatserna är att dataspel påverkar unga vuxna män mer positivt än negativt när det gäller psykosociala faktorer men mindre positivt för fysiska konsekvenser. Detta beror på att vuxna har mer kontroll och mera kunskaper för att balansera både det dagliga livet och sin hälsa. / The study aims to demonstrate how computer games affect young men adults behaviour and the pros and cons of health. There are usually negative reactions to computer games from others and its effects on health. Research shows that violent games adversely affect behaviour and it is believed that it can lead to aggressive behaviour. There are rarely any positive aspects addressed in studies of computer games and less research on young adult men's experiences of computer games. Targeted selection was chosen in the study as six young adult men from Västerås were considered relevant as a target group to find out the pros and cons of computer games and how they experience their health being affected. The study is based on a qualitative method in which the data collection took place through semi-structured interviews as a design. The interviews were analysed through a manifest content analysis. The result shows that the investigators experienced that computer games have both negative and positive consequences depending on the reason they play. Computer games according to the investigators in the study are shown to be relaxing and calming but however, can affect the body in the short term. The conclusions is that computer games affect young men more positively than negatively when it comes to psychosocial factors but less positive for physical consequences and outcomes. This is because adults have more control and more knowledge to balance both daily life and their health.

A clínica psicanalítica contemporânea está desafiada a responder a condições emocionais marcadas por estados de solidão, desamparo, desorganização e enfraquecimento da experiência de alteridade, que podem se expressar nos chamados pacientes fronteiriços (borderline). Nesses estados psicopatológicos, descritos na literatura psicanalítica desde a década de 1930, há um componente central que se destaca e que inspirou a presente investigação. Trata-se da angústia de perda de objeto e da busca desesperada pelo outro na esperança de aplacar estados gravemente desestruturantes. Esta tese apresenta ponderações teóricas sobre esses pacientes a partir de importantes autores da psicanálise, além de uma revisão da literatura disponível em bases de dados relevantes, abrangendo pesquisas realizadas nos dez últimos anos sobre adicção e pacientes fronteiriços. Realizada a partir desse aprofundado estudo teórico, esta pesquisa teve o duplo objetivo de refletir sobre a forma de relacionamento estabelecida pelos pacientes fronteiriços e de ampliar a compreensão do drama contido nesse sofrimento. A investigação caracteriza-se como pesquisa psicanalítica qualitativa, desenvolvida com estudo de três casos clínicos: uma mulher de 41 anos, um adolescente de 14 e um homem de 32. Todos foram atendidos em contexto de psicoterapia psicanalítica individual, assim como todas as etapas da pesquisa ocorreram sustentadas pelo método psicanalítico, desde a produção, o registro e o tratamento do material, apresentado na forma de narrativas. Evidenciou-se a predominância de relacionamentos adictivos como marca proeminente da dinâmica dos três casos estudados. Tal dinâmica se manifestou intensamente na relação terapêutica e em outros vínculos na vida dessas pessoas, como se observou pelo relato dos pacientes. Considerando a história e os desenvolvimentos próprios de cada pessoa, esta pesquisa confirmou proposições de autores clássicos da psicanálise, bem como resultados de estudos mais atuais. A pesquisa trouxe, ainda, considerações que favoreceram a compreensão da dinâmica e da estrutura de personalidade de cada uma dessas pessoas, evidenciando- se a necessidade de serem acolhidas, compreendidas e tratadas, em função do intenso sofrimento e da extrema dificuldade que vivem / The contemporary clinic is challenged to respond to emotional conditions marked by loneliness states, helplessness, disorganization and weakening of otherness experience, which can be expressed in so-called borderline patients. These psychopathological states, described in psychoanalytic literature since the 1930s, there is a central component that stands out and that inspired this research. It is the anguish of loss of the object and desperate search for another in the hope of placating seriously destabilizing states. We present theoretical placements on these patients from important authors of psychoanalysis, as well as inserting a research literature review conducted in the last ten years of addiction and borderline patients in different databases. From this in-depth theoretical study, this research was conducted in order to reflect on the type of relationship established by the border patients, aiming further broaden the understanding of the drama contained in this suffering. The research is characterized as qualitative psychoanalytic research, developed a study of three clinical cases, a woman of 41, a adolecent of 14 and a man of 32. All were treated in individual psychoanalytic psychotherapy context, as well as all stages of search occurred supported by the psychoanalytic method from the generation, recording and processing of the material presented in the form of narratives. Showed the predominance of addictive relationships as a prominent mark of the dynamics of the three cases studied, which is strongly expressed in the therapeutic relationship, and as noted by the report, other links in their lives. Considering the history and own developments of each person, this research confirmed placements of classical authors of psychoanalysis, as well as the most recent research results. The research has also considerations that favored the understanding of the dynamics and personality structure of each of these people, demonstrating the need to be accepted, understood and treated, due to the intense suffering and extreme difficulty living

Este trabalho tem como objetivo compreender as características das relações adictivas, analisando casos em que a relação conjugal é vivida como se fosse um tipo de adicção. Proponho apresentar uma compreensão das adicções com base na perspectiva proposta por Donald Winnicott, para quem a adicção é um tipo de problema cuja gênese está relacionada com falhas que ocorreram na fase da transicionalidade; bem como, nos desenvolvimentos dessa perspectiva, feita por Joyce McDougall, que ampliou o ponto de vista indicado por Winnicott, e chamou a atenção para o fenômeno que denominou como sendo os relacionamentos adictivos. Nesta direção, procurei mostrar que os relacionamentos adictivos correspondem a modos de defesa contra três tipos de angústia, a saber: as angústias impensáveis, as que derivam de falhas na vivência dos fenômenos transicionais e, por fim, à deprivação num momento em que os indivíduos já têm uma certa organização psíquica que torna possível a distinção Eu- Nãoeu / The purpose of this study is to understand the characteristics of addictive relations through the analysis of cases showing the conjugal relationship experience as a sort of addiction. I will show an understanding of addictions based on Donald Winnicotts perspective who considered addiction as a problem whose origin is connected with failures occurred during the transitional phase as well as based on the unfolding of this perspective by Joyce McDougall who broadened Winnicotts point of view and draw our attention to the phenomenon she called addictive relations. Consequently, I try to show that addictive relations correspond to defense modes against three types of anxiety, namely: unthinkable anxieties, those resulting from failures in experiencing transitional phenomena and, at last, deprivation when individuals already have a certain psychic organization enabling the differentiation between Me and Not-me

A farmacodependência é considerada uma doença crônica e sujeita à recaídas, na qual o indivíduo perde o controle sob a utilização de determinada droga de abuso. Conforme o usuário persiste com o uso da droga, ocorrem alterações anatômicas, fisiológicas e neuroquímicas no sistema nervoso central (SNC), as quais podem culminar no desenvolvimento de um comportamento compulsivo. A neurobiologia deste processo é complexa e envolve mecanismos de plasticidade em diferentes sistemas neurotransmissores. O principal deles é o sistema mesocorticolímbico dopaminérgico, constituído por neurônios da área ventral do tegmento mesencefálico (VTA) que se projetam para o núcleo accumbens (NAc) e ao córtex pré-frontal (CPF), diretamente relacionado aos processos motivação e recompensa. Contudo, o mesmo não é suficiente para elucidar a complexidade da doença, o que levou ao entendimento da presença de outros sistemas neurotransmissores neste processo. Sabe-se que o sistema colinérgico muscarínico está diretamente envolvido em diferentes doenças neuropsiquiátricas, incluindo a farmacodependência. Além disso, os receptores colinérgicos muscarínicos (mAChRs) estão densamente presentes em regiões límbicas, onde acetilcolina e dopamina interagem por neuromodulação. Diante disto, o objetivo deste trabalho foi investigar as possíveis alterações plásticas no sistema colinérgico muscarínico resultantes de tratamentos com cocaína que mimetizaram o consumo compulsivo humano. Para tanto, foram realizados ensaios comportamentais com camundongos Swiss machos adultos em campo aberto, tratados durante um (acute binge paradigm, 30 mg/kg) ou 14 dias (escalating dose binge paradigm, 15 - 30 mg/kg) com cocaína. Os animais receberam 3 injeções intraperitoneais (i.p.) de cocaína com intervalos de 60 minutos, durante os quais a atividade locomotora foi avaliada. Após a análise comportamental, os animais foram eutanasiados por decapitação para a remoção do encéfalo e dissecação do estriado, CPF e hipocampo, regiões cerebrais cruciais para o processo fisiopatológico da farmacodependência. Componentes do sistema dopaminérgico (receptores D1 e D2) e colinérgico muscarínico (M1-M5 mAChRs, ChAT, VAChT e AChE) foram avaliados por Immunoblotting. O sangue dos animais foi coletado para a realização das dosagens de cocaína e benzoeilecgonidina por UPLC-MS/MS. O desempenho locomotor total dos animais tratados com cocaína foi superior ao dos animais controle. O grupo tratado com escalonamento de dose desenvolveu sensibilização comportamental aos efeitos psicoestimulantes da cocaína no segundo dia de tratamento e, a partir dele, a atividade locomotora total manteve a mesma magnitude. Além disso, conforme o aumento da dose, os animais mantiveram um nível de atividade superior ao basal, mesmo após o término do experimento. As análises de Immunoblotting mostraram alterações dopaminérgicas e colinérgicas. No estriado observou-se redução da densidade de D2R após o tratamento de 14 dias e aumento na densidade de M3 mAChR após o tratamento agudo. Já no hipocampo observou-se redução de D1R e aumento de D2R, M1 e M5 mAChR após o tratamento crônico; e um aumento na densidade de M3 mAChR após o tratamento agudo. No CPF, foi evidenciada redução de M3 e de M5 mAChR após o tratamento cônico de 14 dias. Em relação às moléculas colinérgicas, observou-se, após o tratamento crônico, aumento da quantidade de ChAT em todas as estruturas estudadas. Além disso, VAChT mostrou-se aumentado no hipocampo após ambos os tratamentos. As dosagens plasmáticas revelaram a presença de 20,38 ± 3,4 ng/mL de cocaína e 224,6 ± 24,02 ng/mL de benzoilcgonina (BZE) nos animais do grupo agudo e, nos do grupo crônico, 62,26 ± 10,56 ng/mL e 375,1 ± 25,62 ng/mL de cocaína e BZE respectivamente. / Drug addiction is a chronic releapsing disorder characterized by the loss of control in limiting drug intake. As the drug use persists, anatomical, physiological and neurochemical changes occur in the central nervous system (CNS), which may lead to the development of compulsive behaviors. The neurobiology of this process is complex and involves mechanisms of plasticity in different neurotransmitter systems. The main one is the mesocorticolimbic dopaminergic system, composed by neurons from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) that projects to the nucleus accumbens (NAc), which is directly related to motivation and reward processes. However, just dopamine is not enough to elucidate the complexity of the disease, leading to the comprehension of another neurotransmitters system involved. It is known that the cholinergic system is involved in different neuropsychiatric disorders, including drug addiction. Furthermore, cholinergic muscarinic receptors (mAChRs) are densely present in limbic regions, where acetylcholine and dopamine interact by neuromodulation. Considering that, the aim of this study was to evaluate the existence of neuroadaptative changes in the cholinergic muscarinic system induced by cocaine in a compulsive-like behavior model in mice. Swiss-Webster adult male mice received 3 daily injections (i.p) of cocaine or saline, with a 60-min interval among them, either acutely (acute binge paradigm) or for 14 consecutive days (escalating dose binge paradigm). The locomotor activity was monitored in the open field during 60 min, in 5 min bins, after each injection. After behavioral analysis animals were euthanized by decapitation and the brain regions of striatum, hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, involved in the pathophysiology of addiction were dissected. Dopaminergic receptors (D1R and D2R), cholinergic muscarinic receptors (M1-M5 mAChRs), choline acetylytransferase (ChAT), acetylcholine vesicular transporter and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) were quantified by Immunoblotting. Blood samples were collected with heparin and plasma was separated and stored with 2% sodium fluorite at -80ºC for cocaine and benzoilecgonine quantification by UPLC-MS/MS. In the open field, animals treated with cocaine showed an increase in locomotor activity compared to control. Cocaine induced behavioral sensitization, in the escalating dose group on day 2, and after that the locomotor activity had the same magnitude until day 14th. These animals also kept the locomotor activity elevated even after the last injection. Immunobltting shows dopaminergic and cholinergic changes. An increase in M3 was observed in both hippocampus and striatum of animals acutely treated. After 14 days, there was an increase in M1, M5 and D2 and a decrease in D1 in hippocampus. There was also a decrease in D2 in the striatum; and finally, there was a decrease in M5 and M3 in the prefrontal cortex. ChAT densities were higher in all regions after the chronic treatment. Besides that, VAChT were higher in the hippocampus after both acute and chronic treatments. UPLC-MS/MS for cocaine and benzoilecgonine demonstrated the presence of 20,38 ± 3,4 ng/mL of cocaine and 224,6 ± 24,02 ng/mL of BZE in the acute binge group; and, 62,26 ± 10,56 ng/mL and 375,1 ± 25,62 ng/mL of cocaine and BZE, respectively in the escalating dose animals.

A adicção a drogas caracteriza-se pelo recurso a uma substância, à qual se atribui o poder de funcionar como o único meio capaz de trazer alívio aos estados de angústia vividos internamente. Não há consenso com relação à reunião dos pacientes dependentes químicos em uma estrutura especificamente adictiva, mas o que se percebe é que, apesar de haver casos com funcionamentos diversos, naqueles em que as drogas assumem status de único caminho possível ao alívio do sofrimento interno, a dinâmica psíquica aproxima-se daquela exibida nos funcionamentos limites da personalidade. Assim, decidiu-se investigar a dinâmica psíquica de 20 jovens adictos a cocaína e/ou crack, pacientes de um CAPS ad II de um município da Grande São Paulo, por meio do Método de Rorschach, buscando identificar em que medida esta dinâmica assemelha-se à caracterização dos funcionamentos limites da personalidade, encontrada na literatura específica de orientação psicanalítica. Foi realizada uma análise qualitativa de cada um dos protocolos de Rorschach, segundo a estrutura proposta por Chabert (2000), em seu estudo sobre os funcionamentos limites da personalidade. Este estudo envolve a análise das modalidades de relação com o clínico; da representação de si; das representações de relações; e da organização defensiva. Realizou-se uma análise comparativa dos resultados do grupo em cada uma dessas categorias. Além disso, é exibida uma síntese do funcionamento psicodinâmico de cada paciente. Os dados revelam que a maior parte dos pacientes estudados exibe boa construção da imagem de si, mas com fronteiras ameaçadas por importantes cargas agressivas, sexuais e depressivas; intenso recurso ao determinante formal, com rebaixamento de sua qualidade; problemas nos processos de identificação secundária; tentativa de manejo dos afetos por meio da via intelectual, nem sempre bem sucedida; impossibilidade de contenção dos impulsos ligados à agressão; impulsividade; movimentos regressivos importantes; manifestação de dependência e de necessidade de apoio; prevalência dos mecanismos de defesa de idealização/desvalorização e de recusa parcial da realidade em nível profundo. Ou seja, a problemática aproxima-se daquela exibida nos funcionamentos limites de personalidade. A partir disso, propõe-se, em termos winnicottianos, que as instituições de tratamento possam fornecer o equilíbrio e a constância ambiental necessários à retomada do desenvolvimento emocional, permitindo que o paciente faça delas um uso transicional rumo à independência / The drug addiction is characterized through the use of a substance, to which the power of functioning as the only mean capable of bringing relief to the anguish states internally lived by an individual is attributed. There is no consensus regarding the gathering of chemically dependent patients in a specifically addictive structure, however, in spite of the existence of diversified performance cases, those in which the drugs assume a status of the only possible way to the internal suffering relief, the psychic dynamic approaches itself to the one exhibited in the personality limit states. Thus, a decision was made to investigate the psychic dynamic of 20 young people, addicted to cocaine and/or crack, patients of a CAPS ad II in a city belonging to the Great São Paulo, by means of the Rorschach Method, with the intent to identify in which measure this dynamic resembles the characterisation of the personality limit functioning, found in the specific literature of psychoanalytic orientation. A qualitative analysis of each one of the Rorschach protocols was performed, in accordance with the structure proposed by Chabert (2000), in his study about Borderline Personality. This study involves the analysis of the relations modalities with the clinician; of the self representation; of the relations representations; and of the defensive organization. A comparative analysis of the group results in each one of these categories was performed. Furthermore, a synthesis of the psychodynamic functioning of each patient is exhibited. Subject data reveal that the majority of the analysed patients exhibit a good self image construction, however with boundaries menaced through important aggressive contents, sexual and depressive; intensive expedient to the formal determinant, with diminishing effect in its quality; problems related to the secondary identification processes; tentative to handle affection through intellectual means, not always with success; impossibility to refrain impulses linked to aggression; impulsivity; important regressive moves; manifestation of dependency, as well as of support necessity; prevalence of the mechanisms of idealization/devaluation defence and of the partial reality refusal in profound levels. That is, the problematic approaches that one, exhibited in the limit functioning of personality. With this content in mind, it is proposed, in winnicottian terms, that the treatment institutions may provide the equilibrium and environmental constancy, necessary to the emotional development recovery, thus permitting the patient to make a transitional use of them, towards independency

O enriquecimento ambiental (EA) apresenta efeitos positivos sobre a dependência ao etanol e é possível que atue como um estressor leve, ajudando o animal a lidar melhor com situações adversas. Camundongos foram separados em três grupos: controle (CO), EA e estresse (ES). Foram estudados os efeitos do EA e ES no comportamento tipo ansiedade, memória episódica, preferência condicionada a lugar (CPP) com etanol, corticosterona e quantidade de receptor de oxitocina (OT). O EA diminuiu a latência de entrada no braço aberto, sugerindo efeito ansiolítico, ao contrário do ES. A memória não diferiu entre os grupos e o EA mostrou maior preferência condicionada ao etanol, comparado com CO. A corticosterona não mostrou diferença. A autorradiografia apontou diminuição da ligação de OT nos núcleos olfatórios e córtex frontal dos animais EA e aumento da ligação de OT na amígdala do ES em relação ao CO, sugerindo maior comportamento pró-social e maior ansiedade, respectivamente. Concluímos que o ambiente é capaz de afetar circuitos cerebrais envolvidos no estresse e dependência. / Environmental enrichment (EE) presents positive effects upon alcohol addiction and its possible that EE acts as a mild stressor, which would help animal cope better with future stressful situations. Mice were separated in three groups: control (CO), EE and stress (ST). We studied the effects of EE and ST on anxiety-like behavior, episodic memory, conditioned place preference (CPP) to ethanol, corticosterone and quantity of oxytocin receptor. EE decreased the latency to enter the open arm, suggesting an anxiolytic effect, unlike ST. Memory did not differ between groups and EE demonstrated a higher preference to ethanol compared to CO. Corticosterone levels didnt differ among groups. Autoradiography showed decreased binding of OT in the olfactory nuclei and frontal cortex of EE animals and enhanced binding of OT in the amygdala of ST animals compared to CO, suggesting higher pro-social behavior and higher anxiety-like behavior, respectively. We conclude that the environment is capable of affecting important brain circuitries involved in stress and drug addiction.

The problem that this study addressed is the rise of internet gaming disorder (IGD) globally, including within the United States and countries such as China—and, the resultant need for more data on the prevalence of adult men and women meeting criteria for a diagnosis of IGD, as well as data on related comorbidities and psychosocial issues. A global sample (N=231) met the study inclusion criteria (i.e., play video games at least once a week at a minimum, consider themselves involved in Internet gaming, and have been gaming for the past six months—while of interest were findings with an English Speaking (ES) sample, and a Chinese Mandarin Speaking (CMS) sample. The study sample of convenience recruited via a social media campaign was 62.4% (n=63) male in the ES sample, and 55.4% (n=72) male in the CMS sample. The ES sample had a mean age of 29.34 (SD=8.396, Min=18, Max=52), and the CMS sample had mean age of 25.65 (SD=7.514, Min=18, Max=57). While the CMS sample indicated they were Asian (99.2%, n=129), the ES sample was diverse: 58% White (n=59), 17.8% (n=59) Asian, and 11.9% (n=12) Black. The main study findings reveal a prevalence of Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD of 0% (n=101) for the ES sample, and .8% (n=1) for the CMS sample. As another main study finding, for the CMS sample, participants met more DSM-5 criteria for IGD (out of the 9 total criteria), when they were male, experienced anxiety in the past year, and were engaged in more violence due to gaming. For the ES sample, study participants met more DSM-5 criteria for IGD (out of the 9 total criteria), when they did not have a partner, had a higher income, were engaged in more violence due to gaming, engaged in a higher level of help seeking for personal/emotional support, and had a lower level of perceived social support. In essence, this constitutes the provision of risk profiles and descriptions of those most vulnerable to IGD. This study contributes to those efforts to conduct research on the DSM-5 criteria for IGD (APA, 2013).

Smartphones har blivit en naturlig del av vår vardag och smarta applikationer ger oss ständigt nya möjligheter. Samtidigt som det finns många positiva sidor med tekniken är det av vikt att undersöka vilka konsekvenser den teknologiska utvecklingen kan få på människor samt vad orsakerna bakom detta är. Smartphones har ökat i tillgänglighet och vi kan bli beroende av dess funktioner, men även beroende av möjligheterna de ger oss. Denna studie undersökte samband mellan personlighetsdrag, symtom på psykisk ohälsa och smartphoneberoende bland studenter (n = 103). Smartphoneberoende mättes utifrån skalan SAS-SV. Ett webbformulär publicerades på studentplattformar med frågor om smartphoneberoende, personlighet och psykisk ohälsa. Ett positivt samband mellan depression, ångest, stress och smartphoneberoende hittades. Bland personlighetsdrag hade neuroticism ett positivt samband med smartphoneberoende samt extraversion och samvetsgrannhet hade ett negativt. Regressionanalys visade att neuroticism positivt och samvetsgrannhet negativt kunde predicera smartphonebeorende. Resultaten diskuteras utifrån tidigare litteratur och vi föreslår att mer longitudinell forskning behövs för att fastslå eventuell kausalitet. / Smartphones have become a natural part of our everyday life and smart applications constantly give us new possibilities. While there are many positive aspects of the technology, it is important to examine what the consequences could be of the technological development. Smartphones have increased in availability and we have become addicted to the opportunities everyday technologies such as smartphones offer us. This study examined the relationships between personality traits, symptoms of mental illness and smartphone addiction among students (n = 103) using web-based assessments. Smartphone addiction was assessed with SAS-SV. We found positive associations between mental symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress and smartphone addiction. Neuroticism had a positive relationship with smartphone addiction but other Big Five personality traits such as extraversion and conscientiousness showed negative association with smartphone addiction. Regression analysis showed that neuroticism positively, but conscientiousness negatively predicted smartphone addiction in our sample. We discussed our results according to the previous literature and suggest that further longitudinal research is needed to determine possible causality between the measured factors.