Searching the internet for health information about bipolar disorder: some cautionary issues

Adults routinely use the Internet as a source of health information. Patients with bipolar disorder and caregivers should be encouraged to increase their knowledge of this complex illness, including through the Internet. However, patients, caregivers, and physicians should be aware of potential perils when searching the Internet for health information, including loss of privacy, quality of web site content, and Internet scams. This review summarizes these cautionary issues. The digital divide remains and includes a lack of technical skills and competency in searching and appraising web sites, in addition to limited access to the Internet. Physicians should provide patients with a list of trustworthy web sites and a brief printed handout on concerns related to searching the Internet. More studies of the use of the Internet by patients with bipolar disorder are needed.