As someone with Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD), I'm no stranger to the intrusive, obsessive thoughts that can come from even the smallest of physical symptoms. I need only notice the slightest changes in my body or health, and sure enough, I've quickly fallen down an internet rabbit hole of health information. And I'm not alone.

More than 100 million people in the US and around 33.5 million in the UK use the internet to search for health information[1]

The internet provides easy access to over 100,000 health information sources, ranging from government-regulated sites and websites run by medical professionals to commercial research facilities and patient-led groups.[4]

While this wealth of information can help both support and educate patients and the wider public, it could also contribute to the distress of those who already struggle with anxiety.[5]

Typically, people who are more anxious about their health tend to search the internet for health information more frequently and for more extended periods of time.[1] In fact, the habit of searching intently for health information as a result of pre-existing health anxiety has become such a common occurrence that it's been given its own name: Cyberchondria.[5]

Why do we do it?

If checking for health information online can increase health anxiety, why do so many of us do it?

Often it comes from a need for reassurance. This could explain why people with anxiety disorders are more likely to excessively seek out health information online compared to those who are less generally anxious.[5]

People often also use online information to self-diagnose. In fact, in 2015, one study found that 35% of people in the US used the internet to self-diagnose before visiting a healthcare professional.[7]

Can the internet be trusted?

Compared to other sources of health information, such as textbooks or information leaflets supplied by healthcare providers, the internet contains a large amount of unregulated information.

Because not all websites are regulated the same way, there can be issues with the quality, accuracy and completeness of the information provided by unregulated sites. This means there's a strong likelihood that people searching for health information will come across conflicting, confusing, unreliable, inaccurate or outdated information, especially as many users aren't sure how to check the validity of online sources.[4]

Surprisingly, findings indicate that online health information results in more significant worries among health-anxious individuals when the information stems from a trustworthy governmental website.[6] In contrast, information from less trustworthy forums leads to fewer worries, which suggests that readers place more gravitas on information that is clearly from a recognisable and reliable source.[6]

The anxiety spiral

One of the core problems with health-anxious people relying so heavily on online health information is that they can selectively take on information that confirms their worries about being ill. Conversely, they may ignore information that counters their belief of what's going on; this is called the illness-related attentional bias.[5]

For example, studies have shown that health anxiety is associated with a bias towards threatening health-related images and that health-anxious people typically pay more attention to threatening health information compared to less health-anxious people. As a result, they may be prone to pick up more negative online health information that fuels their already existing worries about health and, thus, fuelling an anxiety spiral. [5]

What all this means is that not only are health-anxious individuals more likely to search for health information online more frequently, but the online health information that they find may increase already existing levels of anxiety, which implies a mutually influencing process. [5]

Is there anything we can do to help?

There’s no escaping the fact that most patients will inevitably turn to the internet for health information at some point. While this can be a brilliant source for them in terms of gaining an initial understanding of a potential condition or treatment, it can also contribute to their worries and fears.

As creators, we must ensure that the information we deliver is clear, accurate and balanced to avoid fearmongering and ensure patients have useful, but not overwhelming, information. It’s also vital to signpost online searchers to the right healthcare professional so that they can get specific advice, reassurance and advice that’s tailored to their situation.

At Mednet, we work closely with charities and brands to help raise awareness of different conditions and treatments. We have a core ethos of employing people with long-term physical and mental health conditions to help us gain a deeper, more empathetic understanding of how patients think, feel and how they may respond to information. This, combined with our Patient Centricity Framework, means we put patients at the heart of hyper-personalised campaigns.

Want to hear more opinion pieces from our fantastic team? Head to our insights page for more engaging content.

References:

[1] McMullan R.D, et al. Journal of Affective Disorders. 2019;245:270-278

[2] Tyrer, P. Curr Psychiatry Rep 2018;20:49

[3] Abramowitz, J.S. et al. Behavior Therapy. 2007;38(1):86-94

[4] Muse, K, et al. Journal of Anxiety Disorders. 2012;26(1):189-196

[5] te Poel, F, et al. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 2016;43:32-40

[6] Baumgartner, S.E, et al. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking. 2011;14(10):613-618

[7] Silver MP. J Med Internet Res 2015;17(1). Available at: https://www.jmir.org/2015/1/e19