The purpose of this study is to 1) determine the efficacy of manualized Short-term Treatment of Internet and Computer game Addiction (STICA), assess 2) the durability of treatment response in these patients and 3) the impact on associated psychiatric symptoms, e.g. social anxiety and depression.

Inclusion Criteria:

• clinical diagnosis of internet or computer game addiction
• internet or computer game addiction according to the AICA-Checklist(Assessment of Internet and Computer game addiction, expert Rating)
• a score >/= 7 in the AICA-S (Assessment of Internet and Computer game addiction, Self Rating)
• patients with primary diagnoses of internet or computer game addiction
• if currently on psychotropic medications, no change in medications and dosages in the past 2 months and during STICA treatment
• if currently off all psychotropic medications, patient has been off at least 4 weeks
• at least 4 weeks off from last psychotherapy and no other ongoing psychotherapy

Exclusion Criteria:

• current Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) < 40
• severe major depression (BDI-II Score >/= 29)
• current alcohol or drug addictions
• personality disorders: borderline, antisocial, schizoid and schizotypal
• lifetime diagnoses of schizophrenia, schizoaffective, bipolar or organic mental disorder
• current unstable medical illness