A New Doctor of Medicine Demonstrates The Role of Yoga in Overcoming Internet Addiction

Monday, July 25, 2022

 

Located in the third floor courtroom, Postgraduate Building, Denpasar, the Doctoral Promotion exam was held with the promovenda candidate dr. I Putu Belly Sutrisna, S.Ked., M.Biomed, Sp. KJ who raised the dissertation title "Hatha Yoga Training on Internet Addiction Improves Dopamine D5 Receptor mRNA Expression, Nuclear Factor Kappa Actived B-Cells (NFkB) mRNA Expression and Symptoms of Internet Addiction in Adolescents."

 

Internet addiction is a form of behavioral or non-substance addiction whose prevalence is increasing, especially in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic. To date, standard treatments for Internet addiction have not been established (Li et al., 2020). Studies on the handling of internet addiction to this day still need to be developed and become something urgent to find a solution. Meta-analysis studies show that exercise interventions, group counseling programs and cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) have a significant effect on improving the symptoms of internet addiction. Sports interventions were found to provide superior results in reducing withdrawal symptoms or internet withdrawal (Liu et al., 2017).

 

Hatha Yoga is used as an integration therapy that has been approved and proven effective in overcoming addictions including internet addiction, in addition to psychotherapy that is often done such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) (Kuppili et al., 2018; Tripathi, 2018). Internet Addiction Hatha Yoga Training (HYAI) was developed from Hatha Yoga to be able to overcome internet addiction which consists of Asana Suryanamaskara, Nadi Shodanam Pranayama, Pratyahara and meditation. HYAI training is carried out based on exercise guidelines from the American College of Sport Medicine (ACSM) and WHO, namely using the FITT-VP method which is described by frequency (how often it is done), intensity (how heavy the training is), time (how long the training takes), type of training. (type of training), volume (total number of trainings), and progression (increase in a week) (Riebe et al., 2018; Scheffer and Latini, 2020). Training for adolescents is recommended for 150 minutes/week of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise (WHO, 2020).

 

The study used a Randomized Community Trial Control-Group Pretest - Posttest Design, involving a sample of adolescents aged 15-18 years who experienced internet addiction with a total sample of 34 people. The sample obtained was done by random allocation which was divided into two groups, namely the HYAI group and the control group. A total of 12 participants were analyzed in the HYAI group who were given training 3 times/week for 60 minutes in 8 weeks and 17 people in the control group were given CBT 1 session/week in 8 weeks.

Asana training on HYAI can increase CBF which can lead to an increase in BDNF production through the activation of myokin (irisin) and PGC-1a, which can stimulate rapamycin signaling (mTHOR) for the neuroplasticity process of RDD5 receptors (Basu-Ray, 2021; Tripathi, 2018). With this increase in RDD5, it can later function in controlling the desire or motivation of someone who has internet addiction to search the internet.

 

Nadi Sudhi Pranayama, Pratyahara and meditation decrease sympathetic nerve tone and increase parasympathetic nerve tone which functions in regulating the HPA-Axis balance in controlling cortisol production in the body (Basu-Ray, 2021). Controlled cortisol can reduce the signaling of the transcription factor NFkB which can reduce the inflammatory response in Internet addiction (Munhoz et al., 2006).

 

This study is the first to examine the effectiveness of yoga from the biomolecular side of RDD5 and NFkB on internet addiction. This study proves that HYAI training 3 times/week for 60 minutes in 8 weeks significantly increased RDD5 and decreased NFkB which is the basis for improving internet addiction symptoms as measured by a decrease in IAT-Ina scores.

 

The exam was led by the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Udayana University, Dr. dr. Komang Januartha Putra Pinatih, M.Kes. with the test team:

1. Dr. dr. Cokorda Bagus Jaya Lesmana, S.Ked., Sp. KJ (K), MARS (Promoter)

2. Prof. Dr. dr.Tjokorda Gde Bagus Mahadewa, M.Kes., Sp. BS (K) Spinal, FICS.FINSS (Copromotor I)

3. Prof. Dr. dr. I Nyoman Adiputra, M.OH., PFK (Copromotor II)

4. Prof. dr. Ketut Tirtayasa, MS., AIF

5. Prof. Dr. dr. J. Alex Pangkahila, M.Sc., Sp. And (KSAAM) AIFO-K (KSAAM)

5. Prof. dr. Ketut Tirtayasa, MS., AIF

6. Prof. Dr. dr. I Made Jawi, M.Kes

7. Prof. Dr. Drs. I Wayan Suka Yasa, M.Si

8. Prof. Dr. dr. I Made Oka Adnyana, Sp. S(K)

9. Prof. dr. I Made Ady Wirawan, S.Ked, MPH., Ph.D

10. Dr. Ni Made Swasti Wulanyani, S. Psi., M. Erg., Psychologist

 

While the academic invitations are:

1. Dr. dr. Ayu Sri Wahyuni's son, Sp.KJ

2. Dr. dr. I Gusti Ayu Trisna Windiani, Sp.A (K)

3. Dr. dr. A A. Ayu Putri Laksmidewi, Sp. S(K)

4. Dr. dr. Luh Nyoman Alit Aryani, Sp. KJ (K)

5. Dr. dr. I Putu Eka Widyadharma, M.Sc., Sp.S (K)

 

In this exam, Dr. dr. I Putu Belly Sutrisna, S.Ked., M.Biomed, Sp. KJ was declared a graduate of the 352nd Graduate Doctoral Program of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Udayana University with CUMLAUDE predicate