Cross-sectional survey of users of Internet depression communities

Journal article

Background: Internet-based depression communities provide a forum for individuals to communicate and share information and ideas. There has been little research into the health status and other characteristics of users of these communities.

Methods: Online cross-sectional survey of Internet depression communities to identify depressive morbidity among users of Internet depression communities in six European countries; to investigate whether users were in contact with health services and receiving treatment; and to identify user perceived effects of the communities.

Results: Major depression was highly prevalent among respondents (varying by country from 40% to 64%). Forty-nine percent of users meeting criteria for major depression were not receiving treatment, and 35% had no consultation with health services in the previous year. Thirty-six percent of repeat community users who had consulted a health professional in the previous year felt that the Internet community had been an important factor in deciding to seek professional help.

Conclusions: There are high levels of untreated and undiagnosed depression in users of Internet depression communities. This group represents a target for intervention. Internet communities can provide information and support for stigmatizing conditions that inhibit more traditional modes of information seeking.

Authors: Powell, J; McCarthy, N; Eysenbach, G

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: BioMed Central
• Journal: BMC Psychiatry
• Volume: 3
• Article number: 19
• Publication date: 2003-12-10
• Acceptance date: 2003-12-10
• DOI: 10.1186/1471-244x-3-19
• EISSN: 1471-244X
• Language: English
• Keywords: Community User; Internet Community; Online Community; SBTMR; Consultation Rate; Major Depression