Internet support groups for depressed patients

People with depression who use Internet support groups heavily tend to be more severely depressed and socially isolated than those who get less help on the Web. These people may, however, gain the greatest benefit from the support groups as a new study indicates. Studies of the effectiveness of various online peer-support groups have yielded mixed results. A study carried out by the researchers at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore described the characteristics of users of Internet-based depression support groups and assessed whether use predicts change in depression symptoms and social support. This study involved 103 people who used Internet-based support groups for depression. Nearly 80% of the support group users were female, most (86%) were currently depressed, and nearly all had been diagnosed with depression. Over half of the study participants reported heavy use of online support groups, logging on to various Internet sites for five or more hours during a two-week period. And these heavy users were five times more likely to no longer meet the criteria for depression at follow-up one year later than those who used the support groups less often. Roughly one third of the study participants were no longer depressed at follow-up. The study participants generally used the online groups for emotional support, but many also reported receiving medication-related information. Still, the use of online support groups did not increase the users' social isolation, as the researchers thought it might. In fact, it did not seem to make any difference in a person's perceived level of social support. Nearly 40% of the users, preferred Internet support groups to more traditional face-to-face counselling, even though only one third had ever participated in such counselling. Since nearly all of the study participants were being treated for their depression, the researchers do not know if online support groups would be similarly helpful for individuals who are not seeing a health professional. However, since one key to recovery from depression is active coping, using all resources and trying multiple methods to learn about your depression and new ways to cope is important and the Internet may help with this. Although more study is needed, this study suggests that Internet support groups for depression do not do harm, and might be helpful in recovery.