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SITAD model showed tanning dependence, abuse by college students

More than 16% of a college student cohort displayed evidence of indoor tanning dependence or abuse based upon a model that measured tanning behaviors in a recent longitudinal study.

Two hundred ninety-six East Tennessee State University students (mean age, 21.8 years; 64.5% women) participated in the study between Oct. 1, 2008, and May 31, 2009. Participants completed the Structured Interview for Tanning Abuse and Dependence (SITAD), based on items from the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders that focuses on opiate abuse and dependence. SITAD measured indoor tanning behavioral patterns and opiate-like reactions to tanning. Participants’ indoor tanning frequency was measured 6 months later.

Tanning-dependence criteria — defined by three or more factors: loss of control, a desire to cut down tanning, time spent tanning, social problems, physical or psychological problems, the need for increased tanning to achieve an opiate-like effect and withdrawal — were met by 16 participants (5.4%). A tanning-abuse diagnosis was reached by 32 participants (10.8%) who did not qualify as tanning dependent but met at least three criteria: recurrent tanning resulting in failure to fulfill role obligations, physically hazardous tanning, recurrent tanning-related legal problems and persistent social or interpersonal problems.

Dependent tanners reported three times more indoor tanning use than abuse tanners during 6 months (mean 50.6 vs. 15.9; P<.001) and had 10 times the rate of indoor tanning compared with the 248 participants with no diagnoses. Dependent tanners also scored higher on the opiate-like reactions scale compared with abuse tanners, who had higher scores than other participants (P<.001).

“A measure, such as the SITAD, that more accurately identifies tanners who are experiencing tanning dependence will be important for physicians to better understand the influences on their patients’ tanning behaviors,” the researchers concluded, adding that a broader study beyond college students and an outdoor tanning behavioral study also should be conducted.