A preliminary investigation of Cyberchondria and its correlates in a clinical sample of patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety and depressive disorders attending a tertiary psychiatric clinic.
Int J Psychiatry Clin Pract
; 26(2): 111-122, 2022 Jun.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-34032529
ABSTRACT
Objectives. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the frequency and presentation of cyberchondria (CYB) in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), anxiety disorders (ADs), and major depression disorder (MDD).Methods. Seventy-seven patients (OCD25, ADs26, MDD26) referred to a tertiary psychiatry outpatient clinic and 27 healthy controls (HCs) were included. A 'working' definition of CYB was used to measure CYB frequency. CYB severity was measured with the Cyberchondria Severity Scale (CSS).Results. CYB as currently defined was present in just 1.3% of the combined patients' sample. Using a broader definition (omitting the disability criterion), we found a higher distribution (OCD12%, ADs19.2%, MDD15.4%, HCs3.7%) and greater CYB symptom severity. Patients with OCD (63.3 ± 18.9) and ADs (63.3 ± 25.9) showed a higher CYB severity, compared with HCs (48.4 ± 9.9, p<.05). In the combined patients' sample, a positive correlation was found between the CSS scores and measures of health anxiety or hypochondriasis. Higher CYB symptom severity emerged in patients with a positive family history of psychiatric disorders and in those prescribed benzodiazepines or mood-stabilisers.Conclusion. CYB represents a common transdiagnostic syndrome in patients with OCD, ADs, and MDD with a spectrum of severity and indicates a variable burden of illness, supporting the need for specific clinical considerations and interventions.Key pointsCyberchondria (CYB) represents a common transdiagnostic syndrome in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety, and depressive disorders.CYB's frequency as a syndrome of compulsive online health searches associated with an increased anxiety and distress was reported in 10-20% patients.Health anxiety/hypochondriasis showed a strong correlation with CYB.Patients with a positive family history of psychiatric disorders and those prescribed benzodiazepines or mood-stabilisers showed higher CYB symptom severity.Considering the spread of Internet use for health-related information, additional studies investigating CYB in clinical samples are encouraged.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Trastorno Depresivo Mayor
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Trastorno Obsesivo Compulsivo
Tipo de estudio:
Observational_studies
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Prevalence_studies
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Risk_factors_studies
Límite:
Humans
Idioma:
En
Año:
2022
Tipo del documento:
Article