Skip to main navigation Skip to search Skip to main content

Internet use by patients with bipolar disorder: results from an international multisite survey

  • Rita Bauer
  • , Jörn Conell
  • , Tasha Glenn
  • , Martin Alda
  • , Raffaella Ardau
  • , Bernhard T. Baune
  • , Michael Berk
  • , Yuly Bersudsky
  • , Amy Bilderbeck
  • , Alberto Bocchetta
  • , Letizia Bossini
  • , Angela M. Paredes Castro
  • , Eric YW. Cheung
  • , Caterina Chillotti
  • , Sabine Choppin
  • , Maria del Zompo
  • , Rodrigo Dias
  • , Seetal Dodd
  • , Anne Duffy
  • , Bruno Etain
  • Andrea Fagiolini, Miryam Fernández Hernandez, Julie Garnham, John Geddes, Jonas Gildebro, Ana González-Pinto, Guy M. Goodwin, Paul Grof, Hirohiko Harima, Stefanie Hassel, Chantal Henry, Diego Hidalgo-Mazzei, Vaisnvy Kapur, Girish Kunigiri, Beny Lafer, Erik R. Larsen, Ute Lewitzka, Rasmus W. Licht, Anne Hvenegaard Lund, Blazej Misiak, Scott Monteith, Rodrigo Munoz, Takako Nakanotani, René E. Nielsen, Claire O'Donovan, Yasushi Okamura, Yamima Osher, Patryk Piotrowski, Andreas Reif, Philipp Ritter, Janusz K. Rybakowski, Kemal Sagduyu, Brett Sawchuk, Elon Schwartz, Ângela M. Scippa, Claire Slaney, Ahmad H. Sulaiman, Kirsi Suominen, Aleksandra Suwalska, Peter Tam, Yoshitaka Tatebayashi, Leonardo Tondo, Eduard Vieta, Maj Vinberg, Biju Viswanath, Julia Volkert, Mark Zetin, Peter C. Whybrow, Michael Bauer*
*Corresponding author for this work
  • Technische Universität Dresden
  • ChronoRecord Association
  • Dalhousie University
  • Ospedale Universitario di Cagliari
  • University of Adelaide
  • Orygen Youth Health Research Centre
  • Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
  • Università degli Studi di Cagliari
  • Castle Peak Hospital Hong Kong
  • Universidade de São Paulo
  • University of Melbourne
  • University of Calgary
  • Université Paris-Est
  • Aarhus University Hospital
  • University of Toronto
  • Tokyo Metropolitan Matsuzawa Hospital
  • Institut Pasteur, Paris
  • Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
  • National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences
  • Aalborg Universitet
  • Uniwersytet Wrocławski
  • University of California at San Diego
  • Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science
  • Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main
  • Uniwersytet Medyczny im. Karola Marcinkowskiego w Poznaniu
  • University of Missouri–Kansas City
  • Croton on Hudson
  • Universidade Federal da Bahia
  • University of Malaya
  • City of Helsinki
  • University of Hong Kong
  • Centro "Lucio Bini"
  • Psychiatric Center Copenhagen
  • Chapman University
  • Deakin University
  • Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health
  • University Hospital Geelong
  • Beer Sheva Mental Health Center
  • University of Oxford
  • Università degli Studi di Siena
  • Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese
  • Hôpitaux Universitaires Henri-Mondor
  • Universidad del País Vasco
  • Arabako Unibertsitate Ospitalea
  • Mood Disorders Center of Ottawa
  • Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust
  • Aalborg University Hospital
  • Michigan State University
  • University Hospital Frankfurt
  • Harvard Medical School–McLean Hospital
  • University of California Los Angeles

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

37   Link opens in a new tab Citations (SciVal)
377 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

There is considerable international interest in online education of patients with bipolar disorder, yet little understanding of how patients use the Internet and other sources to seek information. 1171 patients with bipolar disorder diagnosis in 17 countries completed a paper-based, anonymous survey. 81% of the patients used the Internet, a percentage similar to the general public. Older age, less education, and challenges in country telecommunications infrastructure and demographics decreased the odds of using the Internet. About 78% of the Internet users looked online for information on bipolar disorder or 63% of the total sample. More years of education in relation to the country mean, and feeling very confident about managing life decreased the odds of seeking information on bipolar disorder online, while having attended support groups increased the odds. Patients who looked online for information on bipolar disorder consulted medical professionals plus a mean of 2.3 other information sources such as books, physician handouts, and others with bipolar disorder. Patients not using the Internet consulted medical professionals plus a mean of 1.6 other information sources. The percentage of patients with bipolar disorder who use the Internet is about the same as the general public. Other information sources remain important.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)388-394
Number of pages7
JournalPsychiatry Research
Volume242
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2 Jun 2016

Bibliographical note

© 2016, Elsevier. Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

  1. SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
    SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

  • bipolar disorder
  • internet
  • world wide web
  • information source

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Internet use by patients with bipolar disorder: results from an international multisite survey'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this