INTRODUCTION TO THE INTERNET FOR PSYCHIATRISTS
How does the Internet affect Psychiatrists?
Why do Psychiatrists use the Internet?
How does a Psychiatrist start on the Net?
This question can be answered in many ways. A simple way of looking at the Internet (or the Net) is to imagine all of the world's computers as being folders or directories on a global hard disk. Just about any computer can be connected to the Net, and a continuous connection is not necessary: files and programs can be uploaded via a modem to a computer server which is permanently available.
Anybody with access to a computer and a connection can reach the Net and may give and receive information of any kind that can be produced on a computer. Text, pictures, sound and video are just some of the material available on the Net.
How does the Internet affect Psychiatrists?
Not very much as yet, for the majority of Psychiatrists, but use of the Net is growing very quickly, and it is likely that in a few years we will wonder how we managed without the Net.
There is a growing store of medical information and I have prepared a list of
Mental Health links that I find useful.It is now very easy to search for information on the Net, and Library and even CD-ROM searches will soon be a thing of the past. Since any material can appear on the Net, the Psychiatrist still has to evaluate the accuracy and relevance of all sources of information. Fortunately this is becoming easier as more and more reputable authorities referee articles placed on the Net.
In addition to discovering information about Mental Health, the Psychiatrist can be in touch with other Psychiatrists by e-mail, through Mailing Lists and Newsgroups. On-line conferences are also appearing. There are increasing opportunities for Psychiatrists to communicate with the public, perhaps in order to offer a free information service, or perhaps to signal their availability for work.
The Psychiatrist also has the opportunity to interact with all sorts of people from all sorts of places in all sorts of ways.
Whatever the inclination of an individual psychiatrist, there is likely to be some benefit to be gained from participating in the Net.
Why do Psychiatrists use the Internet?
For all sorts of reasons. The large number of Psychotherapy sites suggests that interest in other people may be a motivating factor, and the growing number of sites devoted to information about uncommon disorders suggests that specialists in organic illness are keen to share and exchange their experiences.
E-mail is much more convenient than ordinary mail, especially when personal or professional contacts overseas are involved: e-mail is effectively free and very quick. Searching for information on the Net is fast and convenient and one can choose any convenient time to do this.
Programs such as
ICQ allow on-line chat, messages and file transfers between users.Every Psychiatrist will have his or her own motive for using the Net, but it helps to have some idea of what is available.
How does a Psychiatrist start on the Net?
Basically by going ahead and getting involved. Many of the reasons put forward for refraining from connecting to the Net are obsolescent. An increasing number of Hospitals and Postgraduate Centres have access to the Net, together with staff who are computer and Internet literate, so technophobia is becoming a thin excuse! The best way to learn is to get somebody to show you. After an hour or two you will be using the Net like an old friend, (to rephrase Sir Clive Sinclair's comment about the ZX81 computer), and with a little more experience you will be able to produce stuff for the Net yourself. I would urge anybody to experiment with the Net on someone else's computer before any purchase is made, just in case you are one of the few people who buy a system and then get discouraged when you cannot get everything working. Believe me, it happens.
If you want to go it alone, take plenty of advice about the equipment that you will need especially if you are not over familiar with computers. Many dealers offer packages which include (nearly) everything, and by and large you get what you pay for.
Ideally you need a Pentium Computer, the faster the better, a good monitor (17"+) and a large hard disk (3 Gigabytes +). At least 32 Megabytes of RAM is desirable, with 64 Megabytes becoming standard. Windows95 is now one of the commonest operating systems, and Windows98 is now available. You also need to buy a fast modem (28.8kbs+), to have access to a phone line, and to avoid domestic disharmony it is worth installing an additional line if possible. You will require an Internet Service Provider (ISP) who will (for about £100 per year) give you access to the Internet, e-mail and other services. Most ISPs now offer free web space for your Internet files (when you start to produce them): find one who does. Again, it pays to take advice.
You need a program called a Browser to interact with the Net: your ISP or dealer should provide one. Either Microsoft Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator is fine. Unless you know what you are doing it is best to let your dealer configure your computer, your connection and your browser. Make sure that you have a tutorial on how to make everything work, and ensure that you have telephone support at least for when you get stuck.
From here onwards the best way to learn how to use the Net is to use the Net! There are many sites which can help you to get started: just click on the hyperlinks (the underlined blue words) and go. If you get lost, you can click the back button, or you can click the home button which will take you to your start page.
You do not have to be able to program in order to create your own pages on the Internet. You can use Microsoft Word97, Frontpage98, or another suitable Word Processor or Web page generator. You may want to try several methods as you learn, and it does no harm to pick up a passing acquaintance with HTML as you go along. You can put pictures on your pages by using a scanner or digital camera, or create audio or video clips for your site.
Sending your files up to your ISP is simple, but again, find someone to show you how to upload your files the first time.
It might be taken for granted that Psychiatrists are, by nature of their profession, tactful, sensitive individuals who possess excellent communication skills. This may be true, at times, at least where contact with patients is concerned. However the human psyche seems to take on a life of its own on the Internet, and although the Net is by and large a friendly place, it is sensible to take precautions to avoid giving offence unnecessarily, and indeed to avoid taking offence where none is intended.
An excellent guide to Net etiquette is available at the
Core Rules site on the Net.Any employee who has access to the Internet is likely to be subject to an Acceptable Use policy, and it is important to know the rules of the organisation as well as following your own code of personal conduct. Guidelines for writing an Acceptable Use Policy Template are currently available at
http://www.ash.udel.edu/ash/teacher/AUP.html#AUPLast Updated 26th November 1998