There has been an increasing recognition among both medical and psychological professionals, as well as the public media, of a concerning tr
Abstract
There has been an increasing recognition among both medical and psychological professionals, as well as the public media, of a concerning trend for child and adolescent users of audiovisual-based, algorithmic social media platforms (e.g., TikTok) to present with or claim functional psychiatric impairment that is inconsistent with or distinct from classic psychiatric nosology. In this short communication, we provide a detailed historical overview of this transdiagnostic phenomenon and suggest a conceptual model to organize thinking and research examining it. We then discuss the implications of our suggested model for accurate assessment, diagnosis, and medical-psychiatric treatment. We believe there is an urgent need for focused empirical research investigation into this concerning phenomenon that is related to the broader research and discourse examining social media influences on mental health.
PDF | There has been renewed interest in the concept and diagnosis of bipolar affective disorder in recent years. Previous epidemiological s
Summary
There has been renewed interest in the concept and diagnosis of bipolar affective disorder in recent years. Previous epidemiological studies have reported the prevalence of the disorder in the USA at 1-2% but further studies have shown that the disorder is underdiagnosed and the true prevalence may be as high as 11%. Despite the stigma attached to mental illness, we have noticed in our clinical practice a new and unusual phenomenon, where patients present to psychiatrists with self-diagnosed bipolar disorder. Here, we explore the background to this phenomenon, the diagnostic challenges and the implications for our patients and practice.
Summary
Through the last decade, efforts have been invested in spreading awareness related to mental health in general. Those efforts aimed particularly at reducing the stigma and discrimination against people with mental health disorders. The key message disseminated was that mental illnesses should be regarded as a common illness and that any accompanying discrimination or exclusion can affect people in a way that may be worse than the disorder itself. A mental illness is defined as a condition that causes serious disorder in one’s thoughts or feelings. It is well agreed that mental health is to be dealt with cautiously and followed upon by a professional. As successful as they may have been, such campaigns failed to assess one vibrant factor that has become vital: the role of the media. This paper aims at examining particularly the role social media; it emphasizes the fact that such openness in mental health issues can be misleading and in some cases manipulative, thus leading to more complex disorders in some cases. This work will present two case studies illustrating the glamorization of some mental health diseases on social media and how the youth might be misled into wrong practices in that respect. It will also detail the results of focus groups conducted at the Counseling Center of the University of Balamand which will project the point of view of university students on that issue.
