How Do People Experiencing Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders or Other Psychotic Disorders Use the Internet to Get Information on Their Mental Health? Literature Review and Recommendations

Abstract

BackgroundStudies show that the Internet has become an influential source of information for people experiencing serious psychiatric conditions such as schizophrenia spectrum disorders or other psychotic disorders, among which the rate of Internet users is growing, with rates ranging from 33.3% to 79.5% given the country. Between 20.5% and 56.4% of these Internet users seek mental health information.ObjectiveFocusing on this population’s Web searches about their mental health, this paper examines what type of content they look for and what could be the benefits and disadvantages of this navigation.MethodsWe conducted a literature review through medical and psychological databases between 2000 and 2015 using the keywords “Internet,” “Web,” “virtual,” “health information,” “schizophrenia,” “psychosis,” “e-mental health,” “e-support,” and “telepsychiatry.”ResultsPeople experiencing schizophrenia spectrum disorders or other psychotic disorders wish to find on the Internet trustful, nonstigmatizing information about their disease, flexibility, security standards, and positive peer-to-peer exchanges. E-mental health also appears to be desired by a substantial proportion of them. In this field, the current developments towards intervention and early prevention in the areas of depression and bipolar and anxiety disorders become more and more operational for schizophrenia spectrum disorders and other psychotic disorders as well. The many benefits of the Internet as a source of information and support, such as empowerment, enhancement of self-esteem, relief from peer information, better social interactions, and more available care, seem to outbalance the difficulties.ConclusionsIn this paper, after discussing the challenges related to the various aspects of the emergence of the Internet into the life of people experiencing schizophrenia spectrum disorders or other psychotic disorders, we will suggest areas of future research and practical recommendations for this major transition.

Recovery After Psychosis: Qualitative Study of Service User Experiences of Lived Experience Videos on a Recovery-Oriented Website

“…While social media provides another route to online peer-to-peer support, using curated peer-based content may help in reaching groups who use social media less, such as mental health service users aged over 45 [ 38 ]. Structured peer-based content in Internet-based interventions may also appeal to young people experiencing psychosis who lack knowledge about how to search the Internet for mental health information [ 39 ] or to people experiencing schizophrenia who are interested in sharing information and emotions anonymously with peers [ 18 ].…”

“…Using contemporary technologies and the Internet to support recovery [ 15 - 18 ] and self-management [ 19 ] among people experiencing psychosis is a relatively recent phenomenon. The Internet, coupled with the widespread uptake of mobile devices, has the potential to increase access to and use of evidence-based resources that can empower users in self-management [ 16 ].…”

Use of the Internet and Mobile Phones for Self-Management of Severe Mental Health Problems: Qualitative Study of Staff Views

“…Some individuals who experience severe mental health problems such as psychosis and bipolar disorder report already using the Internet and mobile phones to self-manage their mental health. For example, some use the Internet to search for health-related information such as medication, diagnoses, and symptoms and to discuss their mental health on the Internet with others [ 5 - 10 ]. Additionally, staff working in mental health care services have reported largely neutral or positive attitudes toward the use of digital health interventions for the management of mental health problems [ 11 - 17 ] but are cautious about using digital health interventions for severe and complex cases [ 15 - 17 ].…”

Recovery After Psychosis: Qualitative Study of Service User Experiences of Lived Experience Videos on a Recovery-Oriented Website (Preprint)

“…Whilst social media provides another route to online peer-to-peer support, using curated peer-based content may help in reaching groups who use social media less, such as mental health consumers aged over 45 [36]. Structured peer-based content in internetbased interventions may also appeal to young people experiencing psychosis who lack knowledge about how to search the internet for mental health information [37], or people experiencing schizophrenia who are interested in sharing information and emotions anonymously with peers [18].…”

“…Using contemporary technologies and the internet to support recovery [15][16][17][18] and self-management [19] among people experiencing psychosis is a relatively recent phenomenon. The internet, coupled with the widespread uptake of mobile devices, has the potential to increase access to and use of evidence-based resources that can empower users in self-management [16].…”