Health-related Internet use and treatment adherence: A transdiagnostic comparison of outpatients with major depressive disorder and schizophrenia

Abstract

Treatment adherence is relevant for clinical and economic outcome in affective disorders as well as psychosis. Knowledge concerning the disease and its treatment might influence patients' willingness to follow the health-care providers' recommendations and mutual decision-making. In the current study, we investigated how Internet surfing for health-related issues and attitude toward the relevance of the online information impact treatment adherence in major depressive disorder (MDD) and schizophrenia (SZ). A total of 83 outpatients (59 MDD, 24 SZ) participated in a survey. A multiple linear regression model with “exposure,” “attitude,” “diagnosis,” and their interaction as regressors was significant predictive of medication-adherence rating scores, R2 =.179; 95% CI [0.00, 0.32]. In the MDD group only, more extended exposure to Internet surfing for health-related issues and attribution of higher personal relevance were associated with poorer medication adherence at a statistical trend level, p =.060 and p =.077, respectively. In both groups, being female as well as higher age and intelligence were associated with favorable adherence, p =.003, p =.044, and p =.039, respectively. Considering the limitations (e.g., small sample size), our findings add to previously published data contributing to a better understanding of how Internet use may impact treatment adherence in MDD and schizophrenia.