Is What You’re Reading Junk? Evaluating the Quality of Mental Health Websites, Part 1 — Anxiety, Panic & Health

by Mike Nichols The internet allows patients, consumers, physicians, and other mental health care professionals to quickly access mental health information. Millions of Americans search for mental health information on the web every year. Whether the information is needed for personal reasons or for a loved one, millions of mental health-related web pages are viewed. Sometimes the information found is authoritative, unbiased, and just what was needed. Other searches end in the retrieval of inaccurate, even dangerous, information. This is the first of a 2-part series. The information for today is presented under the following headings: * What is the purpose of the site? * Who owns the site? How is it funded? * Be on guard for bias and competing interests * Authorship and affiliation are important * Authority and cited sources Tomorrow’s installment, Part 2, will continue with the topics: * How old is the information? When was it published or reviewed? * Does the site support the doctor-patient relationship? * Privacy, advertising, and other policies should be clearly stated * How does the site interact with visitors? Read Full Article: Is What You’re Reading Junk? Evaluating the Quality of Mental Health Websites, Part 1 — Anxiety, Panic & Health