INTRODUCTION:

Internet is an inevitable component of modern life. People tend to use or overuse technology in their faster life.¹In recent years there is a tremendous increase in online shopping like cloth, jewellery and also use of internet for searching disease condition, sale of medicines, have been increased with using online/ internet as a medium.²There has been an explosive growth in the use of internet not only in India but also worldwide in the last decade.³ Internet is largely seen as one of the world's biggest technology platform. Easy and continuous access to the Internet provides tremendous opportunities for adolescent socialization, allowing them to connect with their peers as well as with complete strangers from across the world. It is a source of knowledge, entertainment, brand building, commerce, education and much more.

However, Internet, which has over the years changed the way we live, work and communicates, also has a darker side: Addiction.⁴During the past decade, online social networking has caused profound changes in the way people communicate and interact. It is unclear, however, whether some of these changes may affect certain normal aspects of human behavior and cause psychiatric disorders.⁵This addiction is affecting millions of adolescents and their families in every aspect of their life.⁶

The term cyberchondria is coined from two words “cyber” and “hypochondria”. “Cyber” refers to computer, internet whereas, “Hypochondria” is a condition in which an individual have excessive anxiety of having major illness.⁷Usually, we refer someone as hypochondriac who has an unfounded belief that he is not well.^8.

Cyberchondria with the advancement of technology and digitalization has become a burning topic. Pattern of searching health-related information lead people to avoid visiting physician, taking over the counter medication, continuously searching for internet sites, reconfirming the online searched diagnosis with the physician’s diagnosis. Once the evidence for illness found they used to have panic attacks and certain level of anxiety issues.⁷

In 2001, a British newspaper named “Independent” referred cyberchondria as the emerging psychiatric illness.⁹Later on, some psychiatrists suggested that cyberchondria should be included in ICD and DSM criteria.¹⁰

Availability of healthcare information on internet has made it possible for patients or their relatives to search for such information.¹¹Cyberchondria excessiveness is very much obsessional, recurring which takes individula’s most of the time and takes up the individual’s leisure time.¹⁰Internet addiction disorder (IAD) is a modern day addiction¹²and use of internet for disease related searches have made population dependent on internet.

Although many Indian studies have found that youth have highest percentage (75%) of the average knowledge regarding consequences of internet usage but still they are unable to control.¹³Addiction on internet even in mild and moderate level needs to be identified and intervened timely.¹⁴

Predisposing Factors of cyberchondria:

As per the US data, up to 9% of the population has had some degree of anxiety related to physical symptoms. As many as 20% have anxiety about their health.¹⁵

Common causes include:¹⁶

· Worrying in general accounts for-71% (cyberchondria also have a Generalized Anxiety Disorder)

· Any incident of trauma in past.

· Bad experience with a medical professional which led to lack of trust or confidence in physicians

· Life stressor-as triggering event

· Attention seeking behavior

· Hereditary (close relative with cyberchondria)

· Increased awareness of bodily sensations

· Family history of serious or any major illness

· Internet use has been identified as having a detrimental effect on sleep patterns¹⁷

Clinical Features of Cyberchondria:

People with cyberchondria exhibit five characteristic traits:¹⁸

1. A compulsion digital searching/surfing of websites.

2. Anxiety caused surfing resulting in worry and panic.

3. Preoccupation with surfing taking up individual’s most of the time.

4. Constantly seeking reassurance from a qualified physician.

5. Mistrust with medical professionals whose advice could be obtained in person

Moreover, signs of cyberchondria includes:¹⁹

· Your actual symptoms are minor or even absent

· Spending several hours per day searching online for information related to minor health symptoms.

· Anxiety of having major illness. (Hypochondriasis)

· Searching online causes you more fear and anxiety instead of relief

· You experience an increase in heart rate or sweating or other anxiety-related symptoms when searching

· Becoming catastrophic about illness

· Diagnosed condition may be minor, but individual is preocuupied and excessively worried.

· Always see online searches as most accurate and trustworthy and comparing it with physician’s proposed diagnosis.

Strategies for overcoming Cyberchondria:

Overcoming cyberchondria requires individual’s willingness as well as professional help from psychiatrist. There are certain intervention which helps the cyberchondria individual the most includes:

1. Avoid Self-Blaming:

Many individuals with cyberchondriablames self, predisposing them for anxiety and panic attacks. Person with this condition should be counseled on a regular basis about self-esteem, stopping self-blaming and shaming. They should be taught certain techniques about anxiety management and having structured schedule planning.

2. Relaxation techniques for anxiety:

Relaxation skills like- yoga, deep breathing exercises, guided imagery, and muscle-tension relaxation exercises helps individual to have control over their anxiety.

3. Note down your concerns about illness:

Note down your concerns for illness. Maintain daily diary and note down when this behaviour escalates, triggering factors and what you feel when it occurs.

4. Discuss with psychiatrist:

Share with your psychiatrist about cyberchondria and anxiety issues relted to it. Give much more weightage to the medical opinion than online searches.

5. Have routine psychiatrist consultation and follow up:

Have regular checkups with your Psychiatrist. At the same time, keep in mind importance of having follow up sessions.

6. Live a balanced lifestyle:

Have daily basic routine, adequate sleep, good diet and exercise. Spend leisure time for your hobbies.

7. Have daily limit for online searches:

Have particular limit for online searches. This further helps to reduce the escalated anxiety. Taking periodic breaks from the internet and divert your mind in other activities.

CONCLUSION:

Cyberchondria is one of the major condition affecting general population these days. Surfing internet sources for confirming disease condition and taking over the counter medication is very common these days. During COVID 19 pandemic times there was escalation in cyberchondria. Person with cyberchondria requires immediate professional care and regular follow-up.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST:

The authors have no conflicts of interest regarding this investigation.

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Received on 09.10.2021 Modified on 19.04.2022

Asian J. Nursing Education and Research. 2022; 12(4):454-456.

DOI: 10.52711/2349-2996.2022.00098