PERCEPTIONS AND EXPERIENCES OF M-HEALTH TECHNOLOGIES AND SOCIAL MEDIA: A QUALITATIVE STUDY IN PATIENTS WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA
The growing influence of technology in the realm of mental health presents promising prospects for patients with psychiatric disorders like schizophrenia. The objective of this study is to investigate the perceptions of individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorder regarding the utilization of technology and social media. The qualitative methodology used consists of an individual structured interview and the data were subjected to thematic analysis. The results show that the participants use digital tools for various activities such as work, searching for information, entertainment, and socialising. Their perceptions confirm the usefulness and easy accessibility of these tools, which enable positive changes in the organisation of daily life and social relationships. In general, it is possible to identify both positive and negative aspects of technology and social media, such as abuse and addictive behaviour, network and information overload problems, and the risk that privacy may not be guaranteed; among the positive ones, the promotion of remote sociability, speed in carrying out tasks and acquiring useful information emerge. Most of the participants express a positive perception of the possibility that digital tools can help in the field of mental health.
1. Riva G. Psicologia dei nuovi media. Il Mulino; 2008.
2. Khazaal Y, Chatton A, Cochand S, et al. Internet Use by Patients with Psychiatric Disorders in Search for General and Medical Informations. Psychiatr Q. 2008;79(4):301-309. doi:10.1007/s11126-008-9083-1
3. Webelhorst C, Jepsen L, Rummel-Kluge C. Utilization of e-mental-health and online self-management interventions of patients with mental disorders-A cross-sectional analysis. PloS one. 2020;15(4):e0231373. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0231373
4. Bucci S, Morris R, Berry K, et al. Early Psychosis Service User Views on Digital Technology: Qualitative Analysis. JMIR Ment Health. 2018;5(4):e10091. doi:10.2196/10091
5. Gumley AI, Bradstreet S, Ainsworth J, et al. Digital smartphone intervention to recognise and manage early warning signs in schizophrenia to prevent relapse: the EMPOWER feasibility cluster RCT. Health Technol Assess. 2022;26(27):1-174. doi:10.3310/hlze0479
6. Fernández-Sotos P, Fernández-Caballero A, Gonzalez P, et al. Digital Technology for Internet Access by Patients With Early-Stage Schizophrenia in Spain: Multicenter Research Study. J Med Internet Res. 2019;21(4):e11824. doi:10.2196/11824
7. Gay K, Torous J, Joseph A, Pandya A, Duckworth K. Digital Technology Use Among Individuals with Schizophrenia: Results of an Online Survey. JMIR Mental Health. 2016;3(2):e15. doi:10.2196/mental.5379
8. Miller BJ, Stewart A, Schrimsher J, Peeples D, Buckley PF. How connected are people with schizophrenia? Cell phone, computer, email, and social media use. Psychiatry Research. 2015;225(3):458-463. doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2014.11.067
9. Highton-Williamson E, Priebe S, Giacco D. Online social networking in people with psychosis: A systematic review. Int J Soc Psychiatry. 2015;61(1):92-101. doi:10.1177/0020764014556392
10. Bauer R, Bauer M, Spiessl H, Kagerbauer T. Cyber-support: An analysis of online self-help forums (online self-help forums in bipolar disorder). Nordic Journal of Psychiatry. 2013;67(3):185-190. doi:10.3109/08039488.2012.700734
11. Naslund JA, Grande SW, Aschbrenner KA, Elwyn G. Naturally occurring peer support through social media: the experiences of individuals with severe mental illness using YouTube. PLoS ONE. 2014;9(10):e110171. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0110171
12. Brusilovskiy E, Townley G, Snethen G, Salzer MS. Social media use, community participation and psychological well-being among individuals with serious mental illnesses. Computers in Human Behavior. 2016;65:232-240. doi:10.1016/j.chb.2016.08.036
13. Firth J, Torous J. Smartphone Apps for Schizophrenia: A Systematic Review. JMIR mHealth uHealth. 2015;3(4):e102. doi:10.2196/mhealth.4930
14. Bowie CR, Grossman M, Gupta M, Holshausen K, Best MW. Action-based cognitive remediation for individuals with serious mental illnesses: Effects of real-world simulations and goal setting on functional and vocational outcomes. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal. 2017;40(1):53-60. doi:10.1037/prj0000189
15. Moritz S, Menon M, Balzan R, Woodward TS. Metacognitive training for psychosis (MCT): past, present, and future. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2023;273(4):811-817. doi:10.1007/s00406-022-01394-9
16. Granholm E, Ben-Zeev D, Link PC, Bradshaw KR, Holden JL. Mobile Assessment and Treatment for Schizophrenia (MATS): a pilot trial of an interactive text-messaging intervention for medication adherence, socialization, and auditory hallucinations. Schizophrenia Bulletin. 2012;38(3):414-425. doi:10.1093/schbul/sbr155
17. Forchuk C, Reiss JP, O'Regan T, Ethridge P, Donelle L, Rudnick A. Client perceptions of the mental health engagement network: a qualitative analysis of an electronic personal health record. BMC Psychiatry. 2015;15(1):250. doi:10.1186/s12888-015-0614-7
18. Arnold C, Williams A, Thomas N. Engaging With a Web-Based Psychosocial Intervention for Psychosis: Qualitative Study of User Experiences. JMIR Ment Health. 2020;7(6):e16730. doi:10.2196/16730
19. Palmier-Claus JE, Rogers A, Ainsworth J, et al. Integrating mobile-phone based assessment for psychosis into people's everyday lives and clinical care: a qualitative study. BMC Psychiatry. 2013;13(1):34. doi:10.1186/1471-244x-13-34
20. Gorman GE. Qualitative Research for the Information Professional: A Practical Handbook. 2nd ed. Facet; 2005.
21. Moustakas C. Phenomenological Research Methods. SAGE Publications, Inc.; 1994. doi:10.4135/9781412995658
22. Braun V, Clarke V. Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology. 2006;3(2):77-101. doi:10.1191/1478088706qp063oa
23. Boyatzis RE. Transforming Qualitative Information: Thematic Analysis and Code Development. Sage; 1998.
24. Aref-Adib G, O'Hanlon P, Fullarton K, et al. A qualitative study of online mental health information seeking behaviour by those with psychosis. BMC Psychiatry. 2016;16(1):232. doi:10.1186/s12888-016-0952-0
25. Andrews G, Basu A, Cuijpers P, et al. Computer therapy for the anxiety and depression disorders is effective, acceptable and practical health care: An updated meta-analysis. Journal of Anxiety Disorders.
26. Bawden D, Robinson L. Information Overload: An Introduction. In: Redlawsk DP, ed. Oxford Encyclopedia of Political Decision Making. Oxford University Press; 2020. doi:10.1093/acrefore/9780190228637.013.1360
27. Goldberg RW, Rollins AL, Lehman AF. Social network correlates among people with psychiatric disabilities. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal. 2003;26(4):393-402. doi:10.2975/26.2003.393.402
28. Degnan A, Berry K, Sweet D, Abel K, Crossley N, Edge D. Social networks and symptomatic and functional outcomes in schizophrenia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2018;53(9):873-888. doi:10.1007/s00127-018-1552-8
29. Seabrook EM, Kern ML, Rickard NS. Social Networking Sites, Depression, and Anxiety: A Systematic Review. JMIR Ment Health. 2016;3(4):e50. doi:10.2196/mental.5842
30. Bawden D, Robinson L. Information Overload: An Introduction. In: Redlawsk DP, ed. Oxford Encyclopedia of Political Decision Making. Oxford University Press; 2020. doi:10.1093/acrefore/9780190228637.013.1360