A Survey of Psychiatric Utility of Clients Counseling Online / 中国心理卫生杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To explore the utility of psychiatric service of clients having online counseling for anxiety or depression. Methods:The anxiety group was consisted of clients (n=107) who were positive in the Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) online, similarly the depression group was consisted of clients (n=102) with positive results in Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) online screening. Both groups were investigated with the questionnaires include issues related to the clinical features, diagnostic categories and treatment vs professional advice on clients. Results:In the anxiety group (male 69/female 38), the average age was 28+8, 88(82.2%) with more than 15 years education. In the depression group (male 57 vs. female 45), the average age was 29+8, 81(79.4%) with more than 15 years education. None was illiterate. For the age, sex, education and occupation, there was no significant difference between the two groups. 81(79.4%) clients in the anxiety group and 89(87.2%) clients in the depression group were advised to visit psychiatrists or psychologists. A few were advised to counseling online only and there was no significant difference between the two groups. The main diagnoses were mood disorders, neurosis and psychogenic disorders. Actually, 29(27.1%) in the anxiety group were treated with anxiolitics, 31(30.2%) in the depression group were treated with antidepressants at local clinics. Conclusion:Most of the clients should visit psychiatrists or psychologists, and a few may have their psychological counseling online only. Health education and psychological counseling online may be helpful to improve the rate of diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders in local clinics.