[Online-consulting for eating disorders--analysis of users and contents].
OBJECTIVE
Since 1998, the online information and consulting server for patients with eating disorders and their relatives (www.ab-server.de) offers an online consulting service.


METHODS
2176 e-mails were qualitatively and quantitatively analysed.


RESULTS
The symptom descriptions refer mostly to bulimia nervosa (63.1%). People mainly asked for behaviour patterns in dealing with the illness or with an affected person (33.3%) as well as for information about the illness (18.7%).


CONCLUSIONS
The low threshold and professional online consulting service is highly accepted by the target group.
Universität Leipzig, Klinik für Psychiatrie. mgrun@medizin.uni-leipzig.de
Martin
M
Grunwald
Dorette
D
Wesemann
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D002032:Bulimia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D034742:Electronic Mail / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009862:Online Systems / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014600:Utilization Review / Q000706:statistics & numerical data