HealthLinksSC.com | 35 “While 54% of videos did contain accurate information, the report also found that about 14.2% are so misleading that they could be potentially damaging, like suggesting certain medications without talking to a doctor,” Bushak added. In an enormous array of videos, people describe their own symptoms of mental health disorders — or even the symptoms of others — which has engendered an increase in self-diagnosis by viewers. Another contributing factor is what psychologists call “the illusionary truth effect.” “The more you hear something, the more you believe is it true,” explained Dr. Jeannine Monnier, a licensed clinical psychologist and co-director of Cognitive & Behavioral Health Center of Charleston (C & B). “Eventually, the illusion becomes truth for some people.” “It has been my experience in clinical practice that self-diagnosis has increased in recent years,” said Dr. Cindy Carter, a licensed clinical psychologist who co-directs C & B with Dr. Monnier. “People come in believing that they have a particular disorder based on information they received in peer-to-peer sharing on social media.” As harmful as self-diagnosis can be, why it happens is understandable, Dr. Carter noted.
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