Clinical Pearls to Manage Cyberchondriacs

Keller, Gregory L.; Padala, Prasad R.; Petty, Frederick

doi:10.4088/pcc.v10n0113e

Cited by 14 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…Hypochondriac patients nowadays, prefer to refer online database rather than medical textbooks or encyclopedias. Harding, Skritskaya, Doherty, and Fallon called cyberchondria the new border of disease anxiety (4,22,18).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Role of Anxiety Sensitivity, Intolerance of Uncertainty, and Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms in the prediction of Cyberchondria

Zangoulechi

Yousefi

Keshavarz

2018

ABCMed

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Frequent search for health-related data on the internet that escalates anxiety experience is called cyberchondria. The aim of this study was to determine the role of anxiety sensitivity, intolerance of uncertainty and obsessive-compulsive symptoms in the prediction of cyberchondria. The study was performed on 177 students of Tabriz University, Tabriz, Iran. The samples were recruited using clustering sampling method. Data were collected using Cyberchondria Sensitivity Scale (CSS), Anxiety Sensitivity Index-Revised (ASIR), Maudsley Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory (MOCI), and Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale (IUS). According to the regression analysis, anxiety sensitivity, intolerance of uncertainty and obsessive-compulsive symptoms positively and significantly predicted cyberchondria. According to the results, the interpretation of physical sensations as dangers, uncertainty about the origin of these senses, and the feeling of responsibility and coercion to be sure about the health leads the individual to frequently search medical information through the Internet.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Role of Anxiety Sensitivity, Intolerance of Uncertainty, and Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms in the prediction of Cyberchondria

Zangoulechi

Yousefi

Keshavarz

2018

ABCMed

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“…[8,9] Cyberchondriasis might lead one to be unduly anxious about one's health, prompting either self-treatment for a nonexistent condition or requesting specific treatments from a provider. [10][11][12] Indeed, some have found that excessive use of the Internet for health information results in increased anxiety and mood disturbances. [13] With physicians and mental health professionals becoming wary of Internet-informed patients, [10,14] it is tempting to label Internet health seekers as ''cyberchondriacs.''…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[10][11][12] Indeed, some have found that excessive use of the Internet for health information results in increased anxiety and mood disturbances. [13] With physicians and mental health professionals becoming wary of Internet-informed patients, [10,14] it is tempting to label Internet health seekers as ''cyberchondriacs.'' However, it is possible that many of these individuals are genuinely concerned about their health for legitimate reasons.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[8,9] Cyberchondriasis might lead one to be unduly anxious about one’s health, prompting either self-treatment for a nonexistent condition or requesting specific treatments from a provider. [10–12] Indeed, some have found that excessive use of the Internet for health information results in increased anxiety and mood disturbances. [13]…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…With physicians and mental health professionals becoming wary of Internet-informed patients,[10,14] it is tempting to label Internet health seekers as “cyberchondriacs”. However, it is possible that many of these individuals are genuinely concerned about their health for legitimate reasons.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Are Consumers of Internet Health Information “Cyberchondriacs”? Characteristics of 24,965 Users of a Depression Screening Site

2011

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Background The number of individuals looking for health information on the Internet continues to expand. The purpose of the study was to understand the prevalence of major depression, among English-speaking individuals worldwide looking for information on depression online. Methods An automated online Mood Screener website was created and advertised via Google AdWords, for one year. Participants (N = 24,965) completed a depression screening measure and received feedback based on their results. Participants were then invited to participate in a longitudinal mood screening study. Results Of the 24,965 who completed the screening, 66.6% screened positive for current major depression, 44.4% indicated current suicidality, and 7.8% reported a recent (past two weeks) suicide attempt. Of those consenting to participate in the longitudinal study (n = 1,327, from 86 countries), 77.4% screened positive for past depression, 64.6% reported past suicidality, and 17.5% a past suicide attempt. Yet, only 25% of those screening positive for current depression, and only 37.2% of those reporting a recent suicide attempt are in treatment. Conclusions Many of the consumers of Internet health information may genuinely need treatment and are not “cyberchondriacs”. Online screening, treatment, and prevention efforts may have the potential to serve many currently untreated clinically depressed and suicidal individuals.

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General practitioners’ challenges and strategies in dealing with Internet-related health anxieties—results of a qualitative study among primary care physicians in Germany

Wangler

Jansky

2020

Wien Med Wochenschr

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Summary Time and again, it is discussed that in medical practices, the number of patients who develop health anxieties due to extensive health information searches on the Internet is increasing. The objective of this study is to explore and describe general practitioners’ experiences and attitudes towards cyberchondria patients as well as strategies to stabilize affected patients. Following a qualitative approach, oral personal semi-standardized interviews with general practitioners (N = 38) in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, were conducted in 2019. In the course of a content analysis, one can see that most interviewees see the emergence of Internet-related health anxieties as an increasing problem in everyday care. Affected patients not only show marked levels of doubt and nervousness as well as hypersensitivity to their own state of health, but also low confidence in the physician. In addition to compliance-related difficulties, the high need for advice and the demand for further diagnostics are regarded as major problems. Various approaches were identified by which general practitioners respond to unsettled patients (more consultation time, recommendation of reputable websites, information double-checking, expanded history questionnaire, additional psychosocial training).

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Clinical Pearls to Manage Cyberchondriacs

Cited by 14 publications

References 5 publications

The Role of Anxiety Sensitivity, Intolerance of Uncertainty, and Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms in the prediction of Cyberchondria

The Role of Anxiety Sensitivity, Intolerance of Uncertainty, and Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms in the prediction of Cyberchondria

Are Consumers of Internet Health Information “Cyberchondriacs”? Characteristics of 24,965 Users of a Depression Screening Site

General practitioners’ challenges and strategies in dealing with Internet-related health anxieties—results of a qualitative study among primary care physicians in Germany

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