Traditional approaches to psychotherapy emphasise face-to-face contact between patients and therapists. In contrast, current computerised approaches tend to minimise this contact. This can limit the range of mental health difficulties for which computerised approaches are effective. Here, we explore an alternative approach that integrates face-to-face contact, electronic contact, online collaboration, and support for between-session activities. Our discussion is grounded in the design of a platform to deliver psychotherapy for depression. We report findings of an 11-month pragmatic study in which 17 patients received treatment for depression via the platform. Results show how design decisions had a significant impact on the dynamics of therapeutic sessions and the establishment of patient-therapist relationships. For example, the use of instant messaging for synchronous, in-session contact slowed communication, but also provided a valuable space for reflection and helped to maintain session focus. We discuss the impact of flexibility and the potential of integrated approaches to both enhance and reduce patient engagement.
Integrating the Digital and the Traditional to Deliver Therapy for Depression: Lessons from a Pragmatic Study
Katarzyna Stawarz,C. Preist,D. Tallon,Laura Thomas,K. Turner,N. Wiles,D. Kessler,R. Shafran,D. Coyle
Published 2020 in International Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems
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- Publication year
2020
- Venue
International Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems
- Publication date
2020-04-21
- Fields of study
Computer Science, Psychology
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Semantic Scholar
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