Digital Risks in Psychiatry: Clinical Vulnerability, Assessment Tools and Mitigation Strategies
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51338/rppsm.657Keywords:
Cyberbullying, Internet, Mental Health, Mobile Applications, Risk Assessment, Social MediaAbstract
The increasing development and use of digital technologies among the general population has led to a greater exposure of individuals with mental disorders to new risk contexts associated with digital media, commonly termed “digital risks.” This literature review aims to identify and describe the main digital risks in psychiatry, the most vulnerable patient populations, their impact across various disorders, and the existing assessment tools. The main digital risks addressed include mental health misinformation; self-diagnosis in psychiatry; exposure to harmful online content (e.g., pro-suicide and pro-anorexia material); cyberbullying; grooming; and online fraud. The need to integrate a systematic assessment of patients’ online activity into clinical practice—particularly for identified high-risk groups—is also discussed. Finally, risk mitigation strategies and the positive aspects of digital technologies for individuals with mental illness are examined.
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