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Cited by 157Digital Mental Health InterventionsHealth Literacy and Information AccessibilityMental Health Treatment and Access

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 32 of the 32 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

The Internet as a Mental Health Advisor in Germany—Results of a National Survey

Open access
Eichenberg, Christiane, Wolters, Carolin, Brähler, Elmar·2013·PLoS ONE
DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0079206PMC PMC3836792
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Abstract

The internet constitutes a popular source of health information. However, the use of the internet and other modern media in the domain of mental health remains widely unclear. This study aimed at exploring the readiness for seeking information online and making use of online counseling and media-assisted psychotherapy. A representative survey of N = 2411 Germans was conducted. Results indicated that more than one fourth of Germans would consider seeking help online in case of psychic strain. Participants reported that they would use the internet when needing to research about mental health topics and to communicate with persons concerned on internet forums. Only a small number of participants had already used psychological online-counseling. The majority of subjects reported not having known about the possibility of online counseling. However, the willingness to make use of this option in the future was in a medium range. Concerning the treatment of mental disorders, participants showed a clear preference toward conventional face-to-face treatment. Less than 10% of participants considered the use of treatment supported by mobile phones, the internet, or virtual realities as likely. Certainly, readiness was significantly higher in persons who were already using the relevant devices--mobile phones, computers, and the internet. In the future, there will presumably be an increasing demand for media-assisted psychological counseling and interventions. Members of the health care system should therefore prepare for current developments and help enlighten patients with regard to the possibilities, and also the potential risks of e-mental health.

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Figure 1 Portion of users of different health information sources (in %, N = 2411).
Figure 1 Portion of users of different health information sources (in %, N = 2411).CC BY · PubMed Central

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Research works printed but not linked: 3

  1. Eichenberg C, Wolters C (2013) Cyberchondria. In: Brähler E, Hoefert H-W, editors. Lexikon der Modernen Krankheiten – Phänomene, Gefahren, Irrtümer. Berlin: MWV. In press.
  2. 2012, JIM 2012- Jugend, Information, (Multi-)Media, Basisstudie zum Medienumgang 12- bis 19-Jähriger in Deutschland
  3. Kienzle K (2010) Medien in der therapeutischen Praxis: Das Nutzungsverhalten und die Einstellung von Psychotherapeuten zu internet- und sms-basierten Interventionsmöglichkeiten (engl.: Media in psychotherapy practices: psychotherapists' usage patterns and attitudes towards internet- and text message-based interventions). Diploma thesis at the Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy of the University of Cologne.

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Metadata

Authors
Eichenberg, C., Wolters, C., & Brähler, E.
Affiliations
  • Sigmund Freud Privatuniversität Wien (AT)
  • University of Cologne (DE)
  • Leipzig University (DE)
Corresponding author
Eichenberg, Christiane
ORCID
Venue
PLoS ONE
Publisher
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Published
2013-11-21
Volume
8
Issue
11
Pages
e79206
ISSN
1932-6203 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1371/journal.pone.0079206
PMC
PMC3836792
OpenAlex
W1966592458
Semantic Scholar
2ba3038f79525076e4926a29c33b1b8ff7c9b82e
Cited by
157
References
32
Citations by year
2025: 9 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 24 · 2020: 52 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 6
FWCI
7.13
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • PLoS ONE (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Kölner Universitäts PublikationsServer (Universität zu Köln) (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Digital Mental Health Interventions
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health Literacy and Information Accessibility
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Mental Health Treatment and Access
Keywords
online counseling, e-mental health, help-seeking intentions, virtual reality therapy, online forums, health information seeking
MeSH terms
Adult, Aged, Counseling, Data Collection, Female, Germany, Humans, Male, Mental Health, Middle Aged, Psychotherapy, Internet

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