The COVID-19 Pandemic and Behavioral Addiction - New Challenges for Structural and Behavioral Prevention

Introduction and objective: The COVID-19 pandemic and the corresponding lockdown measures exemplified that special strategies of structural prevention as well as for behavioral prevention are needed with respect to online behavioral addictions Rationale: The likelihood is high that the COVID-19 crisis and the accompanying measures to contain it have increased the risks for the development of behavioral addictions Factors such as the discontinuation of terrestrial offers, social isolation and forced inactivity as well as the increased importance of online activities contribute to this At the same time, the severity of disorders may have increased and chances of remission may have decreased An increased risk of relapse can also be assumed Conclusion: Epidemiological studies are necessary to investigate changes in prevalence, care needs and risk factors There is a need to develop measures for structural prevention as well as for behavioral prevention Tracking online behavior could serve as a measure to identify risky behavior patterns and could be the starting point for measures such as interrupting games or applications, warnings and information as well as concrete offers of early intervention or further help The providers are in charge for taking responsibility for their products, minimizing the risk of behavioral addictions and enabling as well as providing measures for early detection and intervention