The study aimed to evaluate if and how online self-help forums are used by patients with bipolar affective disorders, their relatives and by professionals.

2400 postings in two German language forums for patients with bipolar affective disorders, their relatives and professionals were qualitatively and quantitatively analysed. Interrater-reliability was 0,84 (Cohen's Kappa). Chi-squared tests with Bonferroni correction were performed and exploratory factor analyses were conducted.

94% of all postings were written by patients, 4% were written by relatives, and 2% by professionals. “Disclosure” (44% of all postings), “friendship” (23%), “online-group cohesion” (22%), “empathy and support” (18%), and “provision of information” (15%) were the main self-help mechanisms. The topics most discussed were the “social network” of the patients (27%), the “symptoms of the illness” (22%), “medication” (14%), “professionals” (12%), and “diagnoses” (11%). The item “provision of information” was significantly more often named by professionals (chi(2)=32,30; p<0,001), whereas the item “gratitude” was significantly more often named by relatives (chi(2)=34,91; p<0,001). Factor analysis revealed three factors according to self-help mechanisms: “group cohesion”, “emotional support”, and “exchange of information”. Also according to fields of interest factor analysis yielded three factors: “illness related aspects”, “social aspects”, and “financial and legal issues”.

We infer that the main interest in participating in online forums for patients with bipolar affective disorders and their relatives is to share emotions. Our study also reveals that the social network is very important for patients coping with bipolar affective disorders. Psychoeducative programmes should focus on those aspects.