International Multisite Survey on the Use of Online Support Groups in Bipolar Disorder

Authors

• Rita Bauer, Technische Universität Dresden
• Jörn Conell, Technische Universität Dresden
• Tasha Glenn, ChronoRecord Association
• Martin Alda, Dalhousie University
• Raffaella Ardau, University Hospital of Cagliari
• Bernhard T. Baune, University of Adelaide
• Michael Berk, Deakin University
• Yuly Bersudsky, Ben Gurion University of the Negev
• Amy Bilderbeck, University of Oxford
• Alberto Bocchetta, University of Cagliari
• Letizia Bossini, University of Siena
• Angela Marianne Paredes Castro, Deakin University
• Eric YW Cheung, Castle Peak Hospital, Hong Kong
• Caterina Chillotti, University Hospital of Cagliari
• Sabine Choppin, Hôpitaux Universitaires Henri-Mondor
• Maria Del Zompo, University of Cagliari
• Rodrigo Dias, University of São Paulo
• Seetal Dodd, Deakin University
• Anne Duffy, University of Calgary
• Bruno Etain, Hôpitaux Universitaires Henri-Mondor
• Andrea Fagiolini, University of Siena
• Miryam Fernández Hernandez, University Hospital of Alava
• Julie Garnham, Dalhousie University
• John Geddes, University of Oxford
• Jonas Gildebro, Aarhus University Hospital
• Ana Gonzalez-Pinto, University of the Basque Country
• Guy M. Goodwin, University of Oxford
• Paul Grof, Mood Disorders Center of Ottawa
• Hirohiko Harima, Tokyo Metropolitan Matsuzawa Hospital
• Stefanie Hassel, Aston University
• Chantal Henry, Hôpitaux Universitaires Henri-Mondor
• Diego Hidalgo-Mazzei, University of Barcelona
• Vaisnvy Kapur, NIMHANS
• Girish Kunigiri, Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust
• Beny Lafer, University of São Paulo
• Erik R. Larsen, Aarhus University Hospital
• Ute Lewitzka, Technische Universität Dresden
• Ramus Licht, Aalborg University Hospital
• Anne Hvenegaard Lund, Aarhus University Hospital
• Blazej Misiak, Wroclaw Medical University
• Patryk Piotrowski, Wroclaw Medical University
• Scott Monteith, Michigan State University
• Rodrigo Munoz, University of California, San Diego
• Takako Nakanotani, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science
• René E. Nielsen, Aalborg University Hospital
• Claire O'Donovan, Dalhousie University
• Yasushi Okamura, Tokyo Metropolitan Matsuzawa Hospital
• Yamima Osher, Ben Gurion University of the Negev
• Andreas Reif, Goethe-University Frankfurt am Main
• Philipp Ritter, Technische Universität Dresden
• Janusz Rybakowski, Poznan University of Medical Science
• Kemal Sagduyu, University of Missouri - Kansas City
• Brett Sawchuk, University of Calgary
• Elon Schwartz, Croton on Hudson
• Ângela Miranda Scippa, Federal University of Bahia
• Claire Slaney, Dalhousie University
• Ahmad Hatim Sulaiman, University of Malaya
• Kirsi Suominen, City of Helsinki, Department of Social Services and Health Care
• Aleksandra Suwalska, Poznan University of Medical Sciences
• Peter Tam, University of Hong Kong
• Yoshitaka Tatebayashi, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science
• Leonardo Tondo, Harvard Medical School
• Eduard Vieta, University of Barcelona
• Maj Vinberg, Psychiatric Center Copenhagen
• Biju Viswanath, NIMHANS
• Julia Volkert, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe-University
• Mark Zetin, Chapman UniversityFollow
• Peter C. Whybrow, University of California, Los Angeles
• Michael Bauer, Technische Universität Dresden

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-11-2017

Abstract

Background: Peer support is an established component of recovery from bipolar disorder, and online support groups may offer opportunities to expand the use of peer support at the patient’s convenience. Prior research in bipolar disorder has reported value from online support groups.

Aims: To understand the use of online support groups by patients with bipolar disorder as part of a larger project about information seeking.

Methods: The results are based on a one-time, paper-based anonymous survey about information seeking by patients with bipolar disorder, which was translated into 12 languages. The survey was completed between March 2014 and January 2016 and included questions on the use of online support groups. All patients were diagnosed by a psychiatrist. Analysis included descriptive statistics and general estimating equations to account for correlated data.

Results and conclusions: The survey was completed by 1222 patients in 17 countries. The patients used the Internet at a percentage similar to the general public. Of the Internet users who looked online for information about bipolar disorder, only 21.0% read or participated in support groups, chats, or forums for bipolar disorder (12.8% of the total sample). Given the benefits reported in prior research, clarification of the role of online support groups in bipolar disorder is needed. With only a minority of patients using online support groups, there are analytical challenges for future studies.

Comments

This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published in Nordic Journal of Psychiatry, volume 71, issue 1, in 2017, available online at DOI: 10.1080/08039488.2017.1334819. It may differ slightly from the final version of record.

Recommended Citation

Bauer, R., Conell, J., Glenn, T., et al. (2017). International multi-site survey on the use of online support groups in bipolar disorder. Nordic Journal of Psychiatry, 71(6), 473–476. https://doi.org/10.1080/08039488.2017.1334819

Copyright

Taylor & Francis