Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health (Jan 2023)
An infodemiological study of worldwide google search volumes for major depressive disorder and persistent depressive disorder from 2004 to 2021
Abstract
Background: Mental health promotion programs have included online strategies in their repertoire. Likewise, there has been an increasing utilization of online mental health information. Thus, there may be a need to explore the utilization of online information for depressive disorders. In doing so, it can reveal public expectations, needs, and online venues that can be used for depression information programs. Methods: This infodemiological study explored the worldwide searches for major depressive disorder and persistent depressive disorder using relative search volumes (RSV) and top and rising related queries and topics from Google Trends. RSV is a value that represents the frequency or volume of searches normalized against the largest search volume in the study period and geography. Top and rising search-related queries and topics are terms and topics that online users also input into the Google search engine related to the keyword of interest. After describing the data, future RSVs were predicted using ARIMA. Results: The findings revealed that searches for depressive disorders decreased and may further decrease in succeeding years. It also revealed increasing searches for diagnostics criteria, including DSM-5. There was also increased public interest in portraying depression. It also found a digital divide in searches for depressive disorders, where high-income countries searched for more online information for depressive disorders. Conclusion: This study findings’ highlights the needs and opportunities in online information for depressive disorders. Nonetheless, further studies are needed to understand the utilization and effects of online information about depressive disorders in improving mental health promotion and literacy.
