title: How Do People Experiencing Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders or Other Psychotic Disorders Use the Internet to Get Information on Their Mental Health? Literature Review and Recommendations.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Studies show that the Internet has become an influential source of information for people experiencing serious psychiatric conditions such as schizophrenia spectrum disorders or other psychotic disorders, among which the rate of Internet users is growing, with rates ranging from 33.3% to 79.5% given the country. Between 20.5% and 56.4% of these Internet users seek mental health information.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Focusing on this population's Web searches about their mental health, this paper examines what type of content they look for and what could be the benefits and disadvantages of this navigation.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a literature review through medical and psychological databases between 2000 and 2015 using the keywords "Internet," "Web," "virtual," "health information," "schizophrenia," "psychosis," "e-mental health," "e-support," and "telepsychiatry."
  
  
  RESULTS
  People experiencing schizophrenia spectrum disorders or other psychotic disorders wish to find on the Internet trustful, nonstigmatizing information about their disease, flexibility, security standards, and positive peer-to-peer exchanges. E-mental health also appears to be desired by a substantial proportion of them. In this field, the current developments towards intervention and early prevention in the areas of depression and bipolar and anxiety disorders become more and more operational for schizophrenia spectrum disorders and other psychotic disorders as well. The many benefits of the Internet as a source of information and support, such as empowerment, enhancement of self-esteem, relief from peer information, better social interactions, and more available care, seem to outbalance the difficulties.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this paper, after discussing the challenges related to the various aspects of the emergence of the Internet into the life of people experiencing schizophrenia spectrum disorders or other psychotic disorders, we will suggest areas of future research and practical recommendations for this major transition.
authors.affiliation: Fondation Pierre Deniker, Paris, France.|Laboratoire de Psychopathologie et Processus de Santé, Université Paris Descartes, Boulogne-Billancourt, France.
authors.forename: Murielle
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2840-9954
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Villani
authors.affiliation: Fondation Pierre Deniker, Paris, France.|Laboratoire de Psychopathologie et Processus de Santé, Université Paris Descartes, Boulogne-Billancourt, France.|École des Hautes Études en Santé Publique, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Viviane
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7045-6175
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kovess-Masfety
keywords: Internet; e-mental health; e-support; health information; psychotic disorders; schizophrenia spectrum disorders