Background: The high and increasing prevalence of internet use in the general population and the significant burden of depression and schizophrenia urge us to investigate the patterns of internet use among patients with these illnesses. The aim of this study is to assess internet use and mental health-related internet use among patients suffering from schizophrenia and depression. Methods: A total of 104 patients with psychosis and 105 patients with depression were surveyed to assess their internet use and mental health-related internet use. Results: The majority of participants were internet users (87.6%), with 66.7% of internet users with psychosis and 71.4% of internet users with depression using it as a source of information on mental health. Participants with psychosis significantly more attributed the internet and mental health internet forums as helpful in coping with their mental illness and were more interested in the utilization of online mental health services than participants with depression. Conclusions: General internet use in patients with schizophrenia and depression corresponds with the internet use of the general population; however, they use it more often as a source of health information than the general population. Mental health service providers should offer more online interventions and treatment programs to patients with psychosis and depression, as our study suggests there is an unmet need for online mental health services for such patients.

Purpose: To examine the prevalence and patterns of mental health patients’ consideration and engagement in self-initiated psychiatric medication discontinuation, identify their motivations, and assess associated factors including fear of discontinuation, trust in psychiatrists, perceived support, and clinical diagnosis. Design: We conducted a multicenter cross-sectional study including 1,574 adult mental health patients from 12 psychiatric clinics and general hospital psychiatric departments across Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro. Participants were recruited from inpatient, outpatient, and day-hospital settings. Participants completed a questionnaire on psychiatric medication use, discontinuation experiences, and trust in psychiatrists. Analyses focused on 773 participants who had considered discontinuing medication, examining prevalence, motivations, and related factors. Results: Among 1,574 participants, 773 (49.1%) had considered discontinuation of psychiatric medication; of these, 361 (46.7%) had actually discontinued, with 273 (75.6%) doing so independently—149 (54.6%) abruptly and 122 (44.7%) gradually. Consideration was most frequent in alcohol use (62.4%) and anxiety disorders (59.9%) and the least in organic disorders (25.0%). Overall, 400 (51.7%) participants discussed discontinuation with their psychiatrist; perceived support was highest in alcohol use (65.9%) and anxiety (58.2%) and lowest in psychotic and bipolar disorders (32.0%). Primary motivations were perceived recovery and regaining autonomy. Fear was generally mild to moderate, and trust was high, with trust and motivations not differing meaningfully between independent and psychiatrist-guided discontinuation. Conclusions: Self-initiated medication changes were highly prevalent and occurred amid a pronounced communication gap, with deprescribing discussions largely patient initiated. Motivations were perceived recovery and desire to regain autonomy rather than treatment dissatisfaction. High trust in psychiatrists provides an opportunity to offer individualized deprescribing pathways through proactive shared decision making, reducing the need for patients to discontinue medication independently.