KDDI, KDDI Research Institute, and Tokyo Medical and Dental University have opened a cyber psychiatry course at Tokyo Medical and Dental University to help improve addiction to smartphones, the Internet, and video games.In addition to elucidating the reality of addiction, we will develop systems to support diagnosis and treatment.
According to KDDI Research Institute, the course will be taught by Professor Hidehiko Takahashi, Associate Professor Daisuke Harutoku, and Assistant Professor Nanaya Kobayashi of the Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University.In addition to collecting daily behavioral information from patients who have given consent in advance and comparing it with medical information in an effort to elucidate addiction, we will also conduct clinical research on a smartphone app to support diagnosis and treatment.The app is provided by KDDI and KDDI Research Institute.
By analyzing smartphone usage using a research app, it will be possible to understand the worsening and recovery status of gaming addiction, which cannot be detected through regular interviews.Based on this, they are also considering developing more versatile diagnostic and therapeutic methods.
A survey conducted by KDDI and others revealed that addiction to smartphones, the Internet, and video games has increased 1.5 times compared to before due to the coronavirus pandemic.Effective treatments for these addictions have not yet been established, and attention is focused on the development of programmable medical devices that digitize diagnosis and treatment.
KDDI and Tokyo Medical and Dental University have been conducting joint research on addiction, but this will be upgraded to a course and further research will be promoted.
