Internet forums: a self‐help approach for individuals with schizophrenia?
Abstract
Objective: To study if and how online self‐help forums for individuals with schizophrenia are used. Method: We analysed 1200 postings of 576 users in 12 international schizophrenia forums regarding communicative skills [fields of interest and self‐help mechanisms (SHM)]. Results: The forums were predominantly used by affected individuals, few relatives or friends. The fields of interest of the users concern daily problems of the illness like symptoms and emotional involvement with the illness. Self‐help mechanisms mostly used are disclosure and providing information. Emotional interaction e.g. empathy or gratitude were comparatively rare. Conclusion: Individuals suffering from schizophrenia participate in online self‐help forums using the same SHM, discussing similar topics as do individuals with other psychiatric disorders as well as not affected relatives and caregivers. Therefore, this tool seems to be a useful approach to cope with alienation and isolation, albeit only a small number of schizophrenia forums are found in the Internet.
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Individuals with schizophrenia appeared to use online self-help forums for self-disclosure, sharing personal experiences, providing or requesting information, describing symptoms, or discussing medication.
“Initial studies exploring use of online self-help forums among individuals with serious mental illnesses have found that individuals with schizophrenia appeared to use these forums for self-disclosure, and sharing personal experiences, in addition to providing or requesting information, describing symptoms, or discussing medication (Haker, Lauber, & Rössler, 2005)”
From Social Media and Mental Health: Benefits, Risks, and Opportunities for Research and Practice (2020) · cites this paper as Haker, Lauber, & Rössler, 2005
Cites
Alterations in theory of mind in patients with schizophrenia and non‐psychotic relatives
Janssen, I., Krabbendam, L., Jolles, J., & Van Os, J. (2003) · Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica · doi:10.1034/j.1600-0447.2003.00092.x · Cited by 263 · see citing works
Social support in a wired world: Use of online mental health forums in Norway
Kummervold, P. E., Gammon, D., Bergvik, S., Johnsen, J.-A. K., Hasvold, T., & Rosenvinge, J. H. (2002) · Nordic Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1080/08039480252803945 · Cited by 223 · see citing works
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The future of mental health care: peer-to-peer support and social media
Naslund, J. A., Aschbrenner, K. A., Marsch, L. A., & Bartels, S. J. (2016) · Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences · doi:10.1017/s2045796015001067 · Cited by 1,180 · see citing works
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Naslund, J. A., Bondre, A., Torous, J., & Aschbrenner, K. A. (2020) · Journal of Technology in Behavioral Science · doi:10.1007/s41347-020-00134-x · Cited by 746 · see citing works
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“Online support groups, forums, and chat rooms help individuals establish new relationships, maintain relationships, and reconnect with people (26) and are important venues for disclosing personal experiences or seeking and sharing information related to symptoms and medications (27).”
BackgroundBroyd, J., Boniface, L., Parsons, D., Murphy, D., & Hafferty, J. D. (2023) · BJPsych Advances · doi:10.1192/bja.2022.15 · Cited by 72 · see citing works
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Experimentally induced social threat increases paranoid thinking
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Internet Forums for Suicide Bereavement: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Users
Bailey, E., Krysinska, K., O'Dea, B., & Robinson, J. (2017) · Crisis · doi:10.1027/0227-5910/a000471 · Cited by 25 · see citing works
- Authors
- Haker, H., Lauber, C., & Rössler, W.
- Affiliations
- Psychiatrische Universitätsklinik Zürich (CH)
- Corresponding author
- Haker, H.
- Venue
- Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2005-10-21
- Volume
- 112
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 474-477
- ISSN
- 0001-690X (ISSN-L)
- 1600-0447
- OpenAlex
- W2022341386
- Cited by
- 73
- References
- 2
- Citations by year
- 2025: 4 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 5.59
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health Literacy and Information Accessibility
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Mental Health and Patient Involvement
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Schizophrenia research and treatment
- Keywords
- schizophrenia, online forums, online communication, disclosure, emotional interaction, social isolation, alienation
- MeSH terms
- Communication, Emotions, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Schizophrenia, Schizophrenic Psychology, Self-Help Groups, Treatment Outcome, Internet
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