Predictors of overall and mental health-related internet use in adults with psychosis. (August 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Villagonzalo, Kristi-Ann; Arnold, Chelsea; Farhall, John; Rossell, Susan L.; Foley, Fiona; Thomas, Neil
• Is Part Of: Psychiatry research. Volume 278(2019)
• Page Start: 12
• Page End: 18
• Publication Date: 2019-08
• Subjects: Internet use -- Digital mental health -- Mental health information -- Severe mental illness -- Schizophrenia; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- periodicals; Psychiatrie -- Périodiques; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2019.05.034
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0165-1781

Abstract

Highlights: People with psychosis increasingly use the internet for mental health support. Loneliness is associated with higher levels of mental health-related internet use. Cognitive difficulties did not impact mental health-related internet use. Negative symptoms did not affect mental health-related internet use. Digital mental health resources should be designed for those with varying clinical difficulties. Abstract: As digital interventions are beginning to be developed to support self-management of psychosis, it is important to understand how illness-related and individual factors may affect internet use and engagement with digital mental health resources among people with psychotic disorders. This study aimed to identify demographic, clinical, and personal variables associated with overall and mental health-related internet use in a sample of 189 adult community mental health service users with nonaffective and affective psychotic disorders. Among participants who regularly used the internet (87.3%), most (67.9%) reported using the internet for mental health information. Higher frequency of overall internet use was predicted by younger age, completion of post-secondary education, and less severe negative symptoms. Internet use for mental health information was predicted by younger age, higher levels of overall internet use, current productive employment, and higher loneliness. This study is the first to quantitatively examine how clinical and personal measures relate to overall and mental health-related internet use in people with psychosis. Although cognitive difficulties and negative symptoms impacted overall internet use, these disorder-related difficulties did not further impact internet use for mental health information. Digital mental health resources should be designed to optimise engagement for this population.