M101. PREVELANCE USE OF TECHNOLOGICAL DEVICES AND INTERNET AMONG PATIENTS DIAGNOSED WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA AND SCHIZOAFFECTIVE DISORDER
Authors: Hoşgelen Emine Ilgın , Binnur Akdede Berna , Alptekin Koksal 
Published: May 2020

Background

Effective use of technology makes human life much easier nowadays. This use has become widespread in health and has gained functionality in many areas. Using technology-based interventions, it is possible to minimize the loss of psychosocial functionality and cognitive disability in schizophrenia, in which social cognitive disability is one of the most basic symptom clusters. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of technological devices and internet usage in patients with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder, to determine the attitude of patients towards technological devices and internet usage and the relation between technology, internet usage with clinical variables such as psychosocial functioning, positive and negative symptoms.

Methods

Data were collected from the patients who applied to Dokuz Eylül University Medicine Faculty Schizophrenia Outpatient Clinic. Eighty-three schizophrenia patients and 13 schizoaffective disorder patients who meet the schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder diagnostic criteria of DSM-5 were included in the study. The sociodemographic data registration form was completed. A questionnaire was developed for the purposes of the research to evaluate the use of technology. The level of psychosocial functioning was assessed using the Personal and Social Performance Scale (PSP), and the positive and negative symptom severity was evaluated using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS).

Results

The study found that 86% of patients owned mobile phone, 67% of patients used internet access, 67% of patients owned computer. 61% patients were using any kind of mobile application and 47% patients were using social media application. The most prevelant mobile applications among patients were facebook and whatsapp (48%). Younger patiens were using internet more than elders in a day (r=-0,395, p&lt;0,001). Negative syptom scores were statistically lower among patients who were using mobile phones (M= 16,05, t=-2,50, p=0,014), internet connection in mobile phone (M=15,26, t=-2,93, p=0,004), using mobile application (M=15,47, t=-2,93, p=0,008), facebook (M=15,31, t=-2,32, p=0,022), whatsapp (M=14,77, t=-3,40, p=0,001), messenger (M=14,94, t=-2,33, p=0,022), messaging applications (M=14,96, t=-3,36, p=0,001), social media applications (M=15,04, t=-2,78, p=0,006) and who make video conversation (M=15,52, t=-2,21, p=0,029) than patients who were not using. PSP score of patients who were using mobile phone (M=50,62, t=2,34, p=0,021), internet access in mobile phone (M=57, t=3,07, p=0,003), mobile application (M=51,90, t=2,16, p=0,033), facebook (M=53,47, t=2,63, p=0,010), whatsapp (M=54,68, t=2,43, p=0,001), messenger (M=54,69, t=2,62, p=0,010), messaging applications (M=54,24, t=3,50, p=0,001), social media applications (M=54,29, t=3,10, p=0,003), and making video conversation (M=53,05, t=2,74, p=0,007) were statistically higher than the patients who were not using. There is also statistically significant relation between application usage and sub-items of PANSS.

Discussion

This study indicated that younger schizophrenia patients having less negative symptoms and increased psychosocial functionality was likely to use technological devices and mobile applications more. Patients may use applications more if they have been developed to facilitate their daily lives. Mobile applications and social media may affect the daily life activities of patients more intensively. In addition, using mobile applications may help patients to cope with their symptoms and improve psychosocial functioning.