Information and decision-making needs among people with affective disorders – results of an online survey

Figures & data

Table 1 Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics

	Bipolar disorder/mania (n=210)		Unipolar depression (n=112)		Statistical tests for between-group differences
	n	%	n	%
Sex					χ^2 (2, N=322)=0.27;
Female	146	69.5	79	70.5	P=0.95, φ=0.03
Male	63	30.0	32	28.6
Other	1	0.5	1	0.9
Age in years (M, SD, range)	44.5 (12.2) 19–74		42.0 (12.7) 18–77		t(320)=−1.71, P=0.09
Education					χ^2 (2, N=322)=1.31;
8–10 years	66	31.4	41	36.6	P=0.52, φ=0.06
More than 10 years	130	61.9	62	55.4
Other (still at school, without graduation, other)	14	6.7	9	8.0
Partnership					χ^2 (1, N=322)=2.01;
In a stable relationship	126	60.0	58	51.8	P=0.19, φ=0.08
Country of birth					χ^2 (1, N=321)=0.16;
Germany	193	91.9	102	91.1	P=0.83, φ=−0.02
Illness duration in years M, SD, range)	19.9 (12.4) 1–60		17.0 (13.3) 1–55		t(320)=−1.92, P=0.06
Treatment experience (for mental disorders)
Already been in treatment	201	95.7	97	86.6	χ^2 (1, N=322)=8.78; P<0.01, φ=−0.17
GP	123	58.6	56	50.0	χ^2 (1, N=298)=0.33; P=0.61, φ=0.03
Specialist physician (eg, psychiatrist, neurologist)	189	90.0	70	62.5	χ^2 (1, N=298)=27.50; P<0.001, φ=0.30
Psychotherapist	147	70.0	74	66.1	χ^2 (1, N=298)=0.34; P=0.58, φ=−0.03
Hospital (eg, psychiatric hospital, psychosomatic clinic, day clinic)	164	78.1	59	52.7	χ^2 (1, N=298)=14.98; P<0.001, φ=0.22
Initial treatment years (M, SD, range)	13.7 (10.6) 0–46		12.5 (10.7) 1–50		t(296)=−0.87, P=0.39

Abbreviations: GP, general practitioner; M, mean; SD, standard deviation.

Figure 1 Frequency of participants’ use of the Internet to search for information about bipolar disorder/mania or unipolar depression.

Table 2 Online health information needs

	Bipolar disorder/mania (n=210)		Unipolar depression (n=112)
	n	%	n	%
For what reasons have you been searching the Internet for information about bipolar disorder/mania/unipolar depression?a
The information my physician/psychotherapist provided was not sufficient.	72	34.3	23	20.5
The information my physician/psychotherapist provided was difficult to understand.	8	3.8	5	4.5
I did not agree with the information my physician/psychotherapist provided.	31	14.8	16	14.3
It was recommended by my physician/psychotherapist to read up on bipolar disorder/mania/unipolar depression.a	47	22.4	6	5.4
I am looking for a physician/psychotherapist.	33	15.7	28	25.0
I wanted to inform myself generally about bipolar disorder/mania/unipolar depression.a	158	75.2	78	69.6
What sort of information on bipolar disorder/mania/unipolar depressiona were you looking for?
General information on bipolar disorder/mania/unipolar depressiona (symptoms, causes, course of the disease).	155	73.8	66	58.9
Information about treatment options (eg, psychotherapy, drugs).	157	74.8	63	56.3
Information about chances, risks, and side effects of the treatment options.	141	67.1	37	33.0
Information on psychotherapists, physicians, clinics(eg, where can I get treatment?).	64	30.5	45	40.2
Information about self-help groups/experience exchange with others who are affected/reported experiences of those affected.	123	58.6	33	29.5
Information for relatives.	46	21.9	13	11.6
Tips on dealing with the disease (eg, coping with everyday life, self-help).	153	72.9	63	56.3

Notes:

a All questions were tailored to the participants’ self-reported diagnoses: participants with symptoms of bipolar disorder/mania were asked about their information search concerning bipolar disorder/mania, and participants with symptoms of unipolar depression were asked about their information search concerning depressive disorder.

Figure 2 Preferred and experienced decision-making roles.

Notes: Bipolar disorder/mania: n=210; unipolar depression: n=112.

Figure 3 Relevant treatment decisions of participants with bipolar disorder/mania (n=210).

Figure 4 Relevant treatment decisions of participants with unipolar depression (n=112).