Full Text (PDF)
Review Article

Internet Derived Information Obstruction Treatment (IDIOT) Syndrome and its Impact on Nursing Services: A Narrative Review

Rajendra Kumar Sahu, Avadhesh Kumar Yadav, Ramavath Surendra Naik

Author Information

Licence:

Attribution-Non-commercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)

This license enables reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.


Indian Journal of Medical Psychiatry 9(1):p 29-32, January 2026. | DOI: https://doi.org/10.21088/ijmp.2395.311X.9126.4

How Cite This Article:

Rajendra Kumar Sahu, Avadhesh Kumar Yadav, Ramavath Surendra Naik. Internet Derived Information Obstruction Treatment (IDIOT) Syndrome and its Impact on Nursing Services: A Narrative Review. RFP Ind Jr of Med Psy. 2026; 9(1): 29-32.

Timeline

Received : April 04, 2026         Accepted : May 02, 2026          Published : June 25, 2026

Abstract

Internet-derived information obstruction treatment (IDIOT) syndrome is an emerging behavioural phenomenon in the digital era, characterized by patients altering or discontinuing prescribed treatment based on unverified online health information. Closely associated with cyberchondria and health anxiety, this condition has significant implications for healthcare delivery. This review synthesizes current literature on the concept, causes, clinical features, and impact of IDIOT syndrome on nursing services. Evidence suggests that the increasing reliance on internet-based health information contributes to self-medication, treatment non-adherence, and mistrust in healthcare professionals, thereby increasing the burden on nursing services and affecting patient outcomes.


References

  • 1.   Rajaram Mohan K FSPTR. Internet Derived Information Obstruction Treatment (IDIOT) Syndrome: A Breviloquent Review.. Cureus. 2022 Aug 12. doi: August; 14(8).
  • 2.   World Health Organization. World Health Organization. [Online]. [cited 2026 March 27. Available from: https://www.who.int/ health-topics/infodemic#tab=tab_1.
  • 3.   Brittany M. Mathes AMNNPABJANBS. Cyberchondria: Overlap with health anxiety and unique relations with impairment, quality of life, and service utilization. Psychiatry Research. 2018; 261: p. 204-211.
  • 4.   Yang C XR. Impact of Cyberchondria on Health and Quality of Life: Scoping Review. J Med Internet Res.. 2025 Dec 4; 27(e77977).
  • 5.   Patel J CSAPRJH. Patel J, ChakDigital Healthcare and Internet Derived Information Obstruction Treatment (IDIOT) Syndrome: Understanding the Link Between Clicks and Consequences.. Cureus. 2024 June 29; 16(6).
  • 6.   The Indian Express. [Online].; 2022 [cited 2026 March 27. Available from: https://
  • 7.   J. Z. How to fight an infodemic. Lancet. 2020. Zarocostas J. How to fight an infodemic. Lancet. 2020 Feb 29;395(10225):676. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30461-X. PMID: 32113495; PMCID: PMC7133615

Data Sharing Statement

There are no additional data available. All raw data and code are available upon request.

Funding

This research received no funding.

Author Contributions

All authors contributed significantly to the work and approve its publication.

Ethics Declaration

Provide information related to the Ethics Committee approval with approval number OR write This article does not involve any human or animal subjects, and therefore does not require ethics approval.

Acknowledgements

We would like to express our gratitude to the patients, their families, and all those who have contributed to this study.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.


About this article


Cite this article

Rajendra Kumar Sahu, Avadhesh Kumar Yadav, Ramavath Surendra Naik. Internet Derived Information Obstruction Treatment (IDIOT) Syndrome and its Impact on Nursing Services: A Narrative Review. RFP Ind Jr of Med Psy. 2026; 9(1): 29-32.


Licence:

Attribution-Non-commercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)

This license enables reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.


Received Accepted Published
April 04, 2026 May 02, 2026 June 25, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21088/ijmp.2395.311X.9126.4

Keywords

IDIOT SyndromeCyberchondriaNursing ServicesInfodemicSelfMedicationDigital Health

Article Level Metrics

Last Updated

Wednesday 10 June 2026, 00:43:11 (IST)


345

Accesses

1
80
00

Citations


NA
NA
NA

Download citation


Article Keywords


Keyword Highlighting

Highlight selected keywords in the article text.


Timeline


Received April 04, 2026
Accepted May 02, 2026
Published June 25, 2026

licence


Attribution-Non-commercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)

This license enables reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.


Access this article



Share