Sunday, May 04, 2003

Internet Delusions As the use of computers, the Internet, and Internet technology becomes more pervasive in society, psychopathological thought content characterized by the incorporation of the Internet into delusions and hallucinations will become increasingly common. Michael T. Compton, MD, from the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine and Grady Memorial Hospital, Atlanta, GA discusses 3 case vignettes involving Internet delusions in an article from the Southern Medical Journal recently published on Medscape Psychiatry. According to the author, "this would seem to indicate that delusions incorporating ideas about the Internet are becoming increasingly common. In addition to this remarkable prevalence of delusions with Internet themes, there are several other points of interest. The Internet delusions presented tended to have themes involving being controlled, having one's private life broadcast to others, and being recorded, tracked, and persecuted." Also, in a letter to the editor of the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, the author pointed out that "in our recent information-oriented society, will the Internet take the place of televisions in delusions? Delusions regarding the Internet have been reported." They discussed the case of a patient with a schizoaffective disorder and a delusion involving the Internet. The case vignettes described above are interesting clinical reading and a reminder to include questions about technology in our mental status exams. 9:49:04 PM    comment []

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