Prolonged screen time for teenagers is linked to the emergence of obsessive symptoms.

A recent study published in the journal Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology examines the link between excessive screen time and manic symptoms during early adolescence.

Current estimates suggest that the average teenager in the U.S. spends over eight hours a day in front of screens, nearly double the amount before the COVID-19 pandemic. This increase in screen time among adolescents is accompanied by a rise in mental health issues: currently, about 29% of American youth experience mental health problems.

Despite these observations, the relationship between manic symptoms and screen time during adolescence remains unclear. Manic symptoms include feelings of increased energy, elevated or irritable mood, inflated self-esteem, reduced need for sleep, easy distractibility, impulsive behavior, racing thoughts, stubbornness, and excessive involvement in pleasurable activities.

Bipolar spectrum disorders (BSD), which often onset during adolescence, are diagnosed based on manic and hypomanic episodes. Early onset of BSD is associated with a worse prognosis and more severe symptoms.

BSD is likely initiated by heightened sensitivity to goal-directed activities or ideas that promise rewards. As a result, individuals with this disorder become excessively motivated to seek out rewards.

Problematic screen use among adolescents is linked to behaviors resembling addiction and abnormal sensitivity to rewards.

Conversely, manic symptoms may lead to increased screen viewing during adolescence.

Previous research has indicated that adults with phone addiction are more likely to suffer from bipolar disorder.

This study aimed to identify the connection between screen time and manic symptoms in adolescents, as well as to determine whether problematic use characterized by addiction, conflicts, relapses, and withdrawal symptoms contributes to this relationship.

Data were obtained from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study, which involved 9,243 individuals aged 10 to 11 years. In the first year of the study, six different types of screen usage were self-reported, including television, video games, texting, video viewing, video chats, and social media.

The analysis revealed a correlation between increased screen time and the risk of developing manic symptoms after one year. This association was observed for overall screen time, as well as for time spent on social media, watching videos, texting, and playing video games. Texting and social media were most strongly associated with manic symptoms, even after controlling for influencing factors.

Problematic use of social media could explain 48% of the increased risk for manic symptoms, while video game use accounts for 58% of this risk.

Key features of screen interaction, especially on social media and video games, include instant gratification and responsiveness to user actions. Social media and gaming platforms are designed to reinforce their use; thus, participation in these programs leads to dopamine release in the brain. Manic episodes are also linked to high dopamine levels, indicating a potential common mechanism.

Lack of sleep and irregular sleep patterns may exacerbate manic disorder symptoms and stimulate already activated reward circuits, intensifying these symptoms.

The study's findings suggest that limiting screen activity among adolescents may help prevent manic symptoms that predict the onset of BSD. Additionally, early detection of manic symptoms could assist in identifying individuals who would benefit from secondary prevention.

This research emphasizes the need for targeted interventions to prevent unhealthy habits and foster resilience among adolescents. For example, a previous study reported that digital literacy programs in elementary schools led to numerous changes in healthy behaviors, including reduced screen time.