Online social networking in people with psychosis: A systematic review
Abstract
Background: Online social networking might facilitate the establishment of social contacts for people with psychosis, who are often socially isolated by the symptoms and consequences of their disorder. Aims: We carried out a systematic review exploring available evidence on the use of online social networking in people with psychosis. Methods: The review was conducted following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Included studies examined the use of the online social networking by people with an a priori diagnosis of psychosis (inclusive of bipolar disorder). Data from included studies were extracted and narratively synthesised. Results: A total of 11 studies, published between 2005 and 2013, reported data on online social networking in people with psychosis. People with psychosis seem to spend more time in chat rooms or playing online games than control groups. The use of other online tools, such as Facebook or communication through e-mail, is lower or the same than controls. Online social networking was used by patients with psychosis for establishing new relationships, maintaining relationships/reconnecting with people and online peer support. Conclusion: Online social networking, in the form of forums or online chats, could play a role in strategies aimed at enhancing social networks and reduce the risk of isolation in this population.
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In online social networking among people with psychosis, an important purpose was to establish new friendships, pursue romantic relationships, maintain existing relationships or reconnect with people, and seek online peer support from others with lived experience.
“More recently, in a review of online social networking in people with psychosis, Highton-Williamson et al (2015) highlight that an important purpose of such online connections was to establish new friendships, pursue romantic relationships, maintain existing relationships or reconnect with people, and seek online peer support from others with lived experience (Highton-Williamson et al., 2015).”
From Social Media and Mental Health: Benefits, Risks, and Opportunities for Research and Practice (2020) · cites this paper as Highton-Williamson et al., 2015
The ability to connect with others anonymously may be an important feature of social media, especially for individuals living with highly stigmatizing health conditions such as serious mental disorders.
“Like other online communication, the ability to connect with others anonymously may be an important feature of social media, especially for individuals living with highly stigmatizing health conditions (Berger, Wagner, & Baker, 2005), such as serious mental disorders (Highton-Williamson, Priebe, & Giacco, 2015).”
From Social Media and Mental Health: Benefits, Risks, and Opportunities for Research and Practice (2020) · cites this paper as Highton-Williamson, Priebe, & Giacco, 2015
Many individuals living with mental illness use social media to search for information about their mental health.
“In recognizing that many individuals living with mental illness use social media to search for information about their mental health, it is possible that they may also want to ask their clinicians about what they find online to check if the information is reliable and trustworthy.”
From Social Media and Mental Health: Benefits, Risks, and Opportunities for Research and Practice (2020) · cites this paper as Highton-Williamson et al., 2015
Social media has become an important part of the lives of many individuals living with mental disorders.
“As highlighted in this commentary, social media has become an important part of the lives of many individuals living with mental disorders.”
From Social Media and Mental Health: Benefits, Risks, and Opportunities for Research and Practice (2020) · cites this paper as Highton-Williamson et al., 2015
Many individuals living with mental disorders use social media to share their lived experiences with mental illness.
“Many of these individuals use social media to share their lived experiences with mental illness, to seek support from others, and to search for information about treatment recommendations, accessing mental health services, and coping with symptoms (Bucci et al., 2019; Highton-Williamson et al., 2015; Naslund, Aschbrenner, et al., 2016b).”
From Social Media and Mental Health: Benefits, Risks, and Opportunities for Research and Practice (2020) · cites this paper as Highton-Williamson et al., 2015
Many individuals living with mental disorders use social media to search for information about treatment recommendations, accessing mental health services, and coping with symptoms.
“Many of these individuals use social media to share their lived experiences with mental illness, to seek support from others, and to search for information about treatment recommendations, accessing mental health services, and coping with symptoms (Bucci et al., 2019; Highton-Williamson et al., 2015; Naslund, Aschbrenner, et al., 2016b).”
From Social Media and Mental Health: Benefits, Risks, and Opportunities for Research and Practice (2020) · cites this paper as Highton-Williamson et al., 2015
Many individuals living with mental disorders use social media to seek support from others.
“Many of these individuals use social media to share their lived experiences with mental illness, to seek support from others, and to search for information about treatment recommendations, accessing mental health services, and coping with symptoms (Bucci et al., 2019; Highton-Williamson et al., 2015; Naslund, Aschbrenner, et al., 2016b).”
From Social Media and Mental Health: Benefits, Risks, and Opportunities for Research and Practice (2020) · cites this paper as Highton-Williamson et al., 2015
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References 66 · Cited by 139
- Authors
- Highton-Williamson, E., Priebe, S., & Giacco, D.
- Affiliations
- Unit for Social and Community Psychiatry (World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Mental Health Services Development), Newham Centre for Mental Health, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
- Queen Mary University of London (GB)
- Venue
- International Journal of Social Psychiatry
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2014-11-06
- Volume
- 61
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 92-101
- ISSN
- 0020-7640 (ISSN-L)
- 1741-2854
- OpenAlex
- W2059735657
- Cited by
- 139
- References
- 66
- Citations by year
- 2026: 9 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 17 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 21 · 2019: 20 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 3
- FWCI
- 2.86
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- International Journal of Social Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
- Queen Mary Research Online (Queen Mary University of London) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Schizophrenia research and treatment
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health Literacy and Information Accessibility
- Keywords
- online social networking, psychosis, social isolation, social networks, online peer support, chat rooms, online games, bipolar disorder, interpersonal relationships, Facebook
- MeSH terms
- Bipolar Disorder, Humans, Psychotic Disorders, Social Isolation, Social Support, Internet, Social Networking
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