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Cyberchondria

Cyberchondria is the experience of heightened anxiety related to medical disorders resulting from online health information seeking. Cyberchondria is a social phenomenon that has evolved along with the corresponding increase in Internet use for obtaining personal health information. The topic of cyberchondria provides fertile ground for social science researchers and, more specifically, communication scholars. The impact of cyberchondria can be examined from a communicative perspective through the lens of technology scholarship, health communication, and interpersonal research. The following entry provides an explanation of cyberchondria including its history and how it is distinct from hypochondria, discusses several social implications of cyberchondria, and provides examples of how the social understanding of cyberchondria could be enhanced through communication-based research investigations.

One of the ways people are employing the Internet for their health care needs is as a diagnostic tool. People input various search engine queries related to symptoms they may be experiencing or are interested in understanding better and view the search results as carrying some authority. This is also sometimes pejoratively referred to as “asking Dr. Google.” The term cyberchondria first emerged in 2000 in the popular press and gained increasing traction and popularity for characterizing the social phenomenon. In addition to popular press attention, cyberchondria has also garnered notice from major medical journals and within the fields of technology, psychology, and communication.

Cyberchondria Versus Hypochondria

The term cyberchondria is an extension of the traditional condition known as hypochondriasis (i.e., hypochondria). Although related, these two conditions are different in how they manifest. More specifically, behavioral manifestations of hypochondria and cyberchondria are where the key differences between the two become apparent. Cyberchondria involves a cerebral response to a lack of information. Conversely, hypochondriacs convince themselves they are suffering from a specific medical condition, manifest physical reactions to their perceived symptoms, and engage in behaviors that enact their concerns (i.e., going to see a doctor). Therefore, the enactment of cyberchondria is far less physical and disruptive, as it centers on increased cerebral efforts to gather information. The primary impetus for hypochondria is the conviction that one has a specific medical condition, whereas cyberchondria is primarily driven by a desire to acquire more information about a specific condition. Furthermore, cyberchondria is less likely to evolve into behavioral responses and more likely to be sustained at the cerebral level. The lower levels of physical commitment make cyberchondria more diffuse and manageable than hypochondria.

The public perception of the relationship between cyberchondria and hypochondria is likely due to the similarity in the terms. As previously explained, cyberchondria is not simply hypochondriacs using the Internet, but rather a distinct form of online information seeking and resulting escalating health anxiety. Cyberchondria is actually more closely aligned with other forms of problematic Internet use (e.g., compulsive online shopping, online gambling, online pornography consumption) than traditional hypochondria.

Social Implications of Cyberchondria

The social implications of cyberchondria are substantial, but for the sake of brevity, this entry will expand on the larger issues of online health information credibility, the health care consumerism movement, and doctor/health care provider–patient communication dynamics. Any form of problematic or compulsive use of the Internet has a social impact. What makes cyberchondria a unique challenge is the component of personal health. A person’s physical well-being is never to be taken lightly and the ubiquity of erroneous or misleading health information on the Internet is a very real issue. This leaves the online health information seeker with the sole responsibility of wading through all the available information to determine what is credible. Consequently, there are individuals routinely seeking out health information online only to be misled or misinformed. The primary concern is a distorted or inaccurate perception of personal risk due to misinformation and deception online. The potentially erroneous information people find while online can lead to unfounded anxiety. Furthermore, the hope that the quality of online health information will improve over time is extremely unlikely. There are reputable and credible sources of health information online, but online health information is not regulated and should never take the place of a health care provider’s examination, treatment, or advice.

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