Cyberchondria: Physiology of Anxiety Due to Health-Related Information From the Internet

Authors

1. Seema Sankeshwari
   Senior Resident, Dept. of Physiology, Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences, Hubballi.
   https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7420-7643
2. Nagaraja Puranik
   Professor, Dept. of Physiology, Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences, Hubballi
   https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0291-049X
3. Aparna A Mulgund
   III Phase MBBS student, Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences, Hubballi
4. Sangeeta Dhulappanavar Ravi
   Clinical instructor Department of Pathophysiology, St George’s university, Grenada
   https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0240-620X

Abstract

Cyberchondria in other sense is also known as “compuchondria” is a groundless upsurge of wordiness about common symptoms based on analysis of search results and medical literature online. It also includes the features of OCD and anxiety. The internet as an informational medium may exert unique effective pressure on those with health anxiety. Information from the web is often of unregulated accuracy, where benign symptom inquiry into a search engine may show as malignancy. People aged between 30-40 years are the most active health information seekers on the net. There are many psychological theories of seeking behaviour from the internet. Hesitant people, white coat anxiety people, physically challenged people and people who exhibit socio phobic nature or extreme introverts, show a defensive nature for reaching out to health centres. There are limitations of Google doctor’s search clinic. It may escalate one’s apprehensive feelings toward health. It may lead to delays in seeking health professional services. It may misdirect and it may speed up or worsen the existing health condition. Past history of the individual’s health will be unknown to Google Dr. 15 KEYWORDS : Cyberchondria, Anxiety, Internet, Google, Doctor

Keywords

Cyberchondria; Anxiety; Internet; Google; Doctor

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