Distinguishing Cyberchondria from Adaptive Online Health Research: Clinical and Rehabilitative Advancements

The use of new technologies within healthcare practices is constantly growing. While these innovations represent clear progress, facilitating and improving care, in some cases they are a concern. The autonomous use by patients of technologies that can answer clinical questions is a source of apprehension. In this sense, cyberchondria represents a problematic pattern of behavior through which subjects seek information related to existing or plausible medical conditions. This is done in the absence of scientific training that can discriminate against the information received. Such behavior consistently has a negative impact on the clinical and rehabilitation pathways. This phenomenon is attracting increasing attention, yet clear definitions and distinctions are needed. Apart from a clear definition of cyberchondria, it should be distinguished from adaptive online health research. This paper aims to produce clear definitions, to relate cyberchondria with health anxiety and other related phenomena, as well as to produce a representation of current etiological theories and future clinical and rehabilitative implications. A better understanding and analysis of the state of the art would in fact produce improvement on clinical activities and on the classification of phenomena.