Cibercondría: La hipocondría virtual
- 1 SERGAS. Área Sanitaria de Ferrol (A Coruña)
ISSN: 1575-7668
Year of publication: 2016
Volume: 20
Issue: 3
Pages: 104-110
Type: Article
More publications in: Ágora de enfermería
Abstract
Objective: Get to know the cyberchondria and identify its main characteristics and concepts, propose tools to assess its severity, identify risks in order to prevent them by encouraging an appropriate use of health resources on the Internet and learn possible approaches and treatments. Methods: Literature review. Results: The reviewed articles provide important information about main characteristics and concepts of cyberchondria, measures for the assessment of its severity, potential risks, diagnose criteria and proposes possible measures for prevention, management and treatments. Conclusions: Cyberchondria is a growing phenomenon. It's not an addiction, it does not produce pleasant or desirable results, but a behaviour related to hypochondria and the increase of anxiety. Professionals and the population in general should be aware of the risks and act to minimize their impact. Keywords: Health anxiety, self-diagnosis on the internet, internet research of symptoms, cyberchondria, online hypochondria, medical disorders of health anxiety.