BACKGROUND: The aftercare of patients in the wake of inpatient treatment is a therapeutic challenge. Aim of the present study was to investigate the utilization, and positive or negative interactions in a patient only (PF) and a therapist guided internet forum (TF) in the follow up of psychosomatic inpatient treatment.SUBJECTS AND METHODS: After discharge from hospital, patients were offered to participate in a PF or TF. The rate and duration of participation was monitored and the content of communication classified by content analysis.RESULTS: In the PF 144 (8.0%) and in TF 76 (8.5%) of invited patients registered. Participants were somewhat younger, more often male, and professionally better qualified. Time of participation was 51 (sd 90) days in the PF and 59 (sd 69) in the TF. 32% of the registered patients wrote messages in the PF and 43% in the TF, with 7 (sd 10) comments on average in the PF and 15 (sd 26) in the TF. Most comments were health related and positive, with a higher rate in the TF. There were still 8 destructive comments in both forums.CONCLUSIONS: The rate of participation in the aftercare internet forum is low. Therapeutic guidance increases the rate of patient contributions. Most comments are supportive, but negative interactions occur even in the presence of a moderator.
Adult Aftercare