Cyber-support: An analysis of online self-help forums (online self-help forums in bipolar disorder)

Abstract

We infer that the main interest in participating in online forums for patients with bipolar disorders and their relatives is to share emotions and to discuss their daily struggles with the illness. Our study also reveals that social networking is very important for patients coping with bipolar disorders. Psycho-educative programmes should focus on those aspects.

Internet-based psychological interventions for bipolar disorder: Review of the present and insights into the future

“…The support provided from patients' peers or coaches in the discussed intervention programs mostly resulted in higher rates of acceptance, engagement and retention (Nicholas et al, 2010;Todd et al, 2013Todd et al, , 2014. This is consistent with the current evidence related to the standalone online support forums and discussion groups for a wide range of mental disorders including bipolar disorder (Bauer et al, 2013;Campos et al, 2014;Highton-Williamson et al, 2014;Schielein et al, 2008). However, the existing projects and studies greatly differ with respect to the applied technical and methodological principles, which make the direct comparisons of these programs challenging.…”

Online information seeking by patients with bipolar disorder: results from an international multisite survey

“…This finding suggests that the information learned online is what helps most patients to cope, rather than emotional support or coping skills learned in online support groups. Prior research on online communities reported that information seeking was the most important activity, (Nambisan 2011; Meier et al 2007; van Uden-Kraan 2009), although emotional support was also important in bipolar disorder (Bauer et al 2013). The time length of most online psychological interventions is considerably shorter than for face-to-face programs and may not offer sufficient professional access for patients to learn coping skills (Hidalgo-Mazzei et al 2015).…”

Online Groups and Patient Forums

“…People living with bipolar disorder have also reportedly found online forums helpful, citing friendship, empathy and online group cohesion [5]. Users report finding online self-help forums optimal for discussing their problems because of the anonymity involved.…”