The acceptability of web-care for patients with major depressive disorder

2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. S28-S28
Author(s):  
M. Ladea ◽  
M. Bran
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Web Application ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Online Information ◽  
Evaluation Tool ◽  
Governmental Organization ◽  
Self Evaluation ◽  
Competing Interest

IntroductionWith the extraordinary rate of development of E-health and widespread internet access in Romania, Inomedica decided to create a platform dedicated primarily to the patients and their families: depresiv.ro. According to Internet Live Stats there were 11,178,477 Internet users in Romania (representing 51.66% of the population) in 2014. Inomedica is a non-governmental organization founded by a multidisciplinary team (psychiatrists, sociologists, IT specialists).The platforms provide rigorous and quality online information about depression as well as self-assessment tools and Q&A section.The presentation will explore the development and effects of the first 16 months of operation of a web platform about depression.MethodsThe depresiv.ro platform design is simple and user friendly. Mental health specialists contributed to the development of the content, which is easy to access and understand.The platform also provides access to a self-evaluation tool, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and thus helps the users identify possible problems and encourage them to seek professional help. The web application also included a demographic questionnaire, and a medical history questionnaire. A native iOS version of the application is available to download free on AppStore. The platform is supported by a Google grant program.ResultsThe platform traffic increased from a few users per day at launch to more than 1000 unique visitors per day. Since 1st January 2015, about 178,000 unique visitors accessed the platform. All the metrics improved significantly during the last months: bounce rate (66.3%), average session duration (02:17 minutes), number of pages per session (2.4).About 25,000 users accessed the HADS application since its release, from August 2014 until September 2015, showing the increasing need for free online self-evaluation tools.The Q&A section is one of the most visited on the platform since many users try to find answers for their questions regarding depressive or anxiety symptoms.ConclusionsAs new technologies are introduced and become more accessible, mental health specialists are developing new ways of providing services and collecting data. The traffic data/usage for both the depresiv.ro platform and the app are evidence for the widespread acceptability of web-based delivery methods.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Exploring Maternal Mental Health in Syrian Refugee Women

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S227-S227
Author(s):  
A. Bowen ◽  
A. Ahmed ◽  
C. Feng
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Maternal Mental Health ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Childbearing Age ◽  
Refugee Women ◽  
Syrian Refugee ◽  
Competing Interest

IntroductionThere has been a rapid influx of 30,000 Syrian refugees in Canada, many are women of childbearing age, and most have young children. The literature reports that refugee women are almost 5 times more likely to develop postpartum depression than Canadian-born women. However, little is known about the experiences that the Syrian refugee women have encountered pre- and post-resettlement and their perceptions of mental health issues in general, and of maternal depression in particular. Thus, there is an urgent need to understand the refugee women's experiences of having a baby in Canada from a mental health perspective.MethodsParticipants include Syrian refugee women who migrated to Saskatoon Canada in 2015–16 and who were either pregnant or up to one year postpartum. Qualitative data was collected via a focus group with thematic analysis, while depression with Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and PTSD screening and sociodemographic descriptive data were collected from a structured questionnaire to provide context for the qualitative analysis.ResultsTwelve women participated in the focus group, despite smiling often, 58% of them screened as probable depression (EPDS > 10), 25% screened positive for depression (> 12 on EPDS), and 17% screened positive for PTSD. None of the women indicated intimate partner violence or suicidal thoughts. All participants indicated social support, mostly partner, and 25% had a history of depression. Thematic analysis will be shared.ConclusionsPerinatal Depression is a serious problem for refugee women that deserve more in-depth study to ensure optimal outcomes and to develop services and programs.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Smartphone for Mental Health Patients: A Double-edged Weapon?

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S148-S148
Author(s):  
M. Mâalej ◽  
M. Turki ◽  
C. Nada ◽  
S. Hentati ◽  
O. Sana ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Bipolar Disorder ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Dark Side ◽  
Self Awareness ◽  
Mental Health Patients ◽  
Mental Diseases ◽  
Smartphone Use ◽  
Competing Interest ◽  
Relationship Addiction

IntroductionThe current development of new technologies dedicated to healthcare, such as smartphones, provides an interesting opportunity to improve both assessment and follow-up of different illnesses, particularly mental diseases.AimTo investigate, the contributions and risks of smartphone use among mental health patients.MethodsWe conducted a literature research of PubMed and Sciencedirect using the key words “smartphone”; “bipolar disorder”; “schizophrenia”; “anxiety disorders”; “addiction”; “dementia”.ResultsLiterature data provide several examples of the use of the smartphone's features for patient monitoring. One such example involved patients with Alzheimer disease. An attempt to deal with the risk of wandering was proposed with the use of the Android app iWander, which works by using the smartphone's GPS to track the patient at all times. As for bipolar disorder, several applications have been proposed both for diagnostic ic instruments…) and interventional purposes (applications that offer subjects psycho-education in the form of emotional self-awareness…). Several other applications can be used in the management of schizophrenia, social anxiety disorder and addictions. Along with its obvious benefits, however, the smartphone use has a dark side. Problematic smartphone use is one form of behavioral addiction recently identified. In addition, the access to Internet through the smartphone opens the door to Internet addiction and its sub-types (cybersexual addiction, cyber-relationship addiction…).ConclusionThe use of smartphone for medical purposes must be cautious among mental health patients, because of a field of vulnerability that promotes the appearance of other mental diseases, especially addictions, which may darken their prognosis.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

scholarly journals Using Teaching Excellence Surveys to Evaluate Improvements in Teaching Confidence

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 8-17
Author(s):  
Erica E Howe ◽  
Jessica L Kalender-Rich ◽  
Michael Brimacombe ◽  
Micholee Polsak ◽  
Becky Lowry ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medical Center ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Teaching Skills ◽  
Evaluation Tool ◽  
Faculty Professional Development ◽  
Teaching Excellence ◽  
Self Evaluation ◽  
Faculty Teaching ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Over Time

BACKGROUND: There are many surveys to assess teaching excellence, but few validated tools to assess improvements in teaching confidence among faculty over time. We hypothesized that previously validated surveys for learner evaluation of faculty teaching excellence also can be used as a self-evaluation tool to assess changes in faculty teaching skills confidence over time. METHODS: A cohort study was designed using a composite survey from two previously validated surveys (SETQ and CanMEDS) on teaching excellence. The composite survey was administered before and after a faculty development course on teaching excellence at the University of Kansas Medical Center in the Spring of 2012. Course “completers” attended more than 50% of the course and “non-completers” attended 50% or less of the course. RESULTS: The overall mean change in survey result scores on a five-point Likert scale was nearly one point for “completers” (mean difference = 0.92, SD = 0.41) as opposed to 0.34 for “non-completers” (SD = 0.34, p = 0.001). The Cronbach’s alpha coefficients for the pre-course surveys were 0.83 and 0.85 versus 0.88 and 0.83 for the post-course surveys, indicating a high internal consistency for both survey instruments. CONCLUSIONS: Measurable improvements in teaching skills confidence occur following faculty professional development courses. These improvements can be assessed more efficiently by using previously validated and reliable assessment tools in new and innovative ways.

Development of a preliminary tool to assess care-giving practices by family members with Schizophrenia: A report from India

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S678-S678
Author(s):  
S. Das
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Face Validity ◽  
Retest Reliability ◽  
Care Giving ◽  
Competing Interest ◽  
Test Retest Reliability

IntroductionCare-giving practices by family members have inherent value and importance in the provision of care for patients with schizophrenia. There is dearth of assessment tools that focus on practices followed by caregivers’ while dealing with their relatives with schizophrenia, especially from India.ObjectiveTo develop a tool for the assessment of ‘care-giving practices’ followed by family members while caring for their patients with schizophrenia.Aims(a) To construct a reliable and valid tool on ‘care-giving practices’ followed by family members while caring for their patients with schizophrenia; (b) To determine the various ‘good’ and ‘bad’ practices within this tool.MethodsInitial detailed literature (Pubmed, Goggle search with input by the caregivers generated a list of 24 commonly used practices; which was shortened to 17 statements whose face validity was tested by 14 mental health professionals. Hindi translation with ‘test-retest’ reliability was conducted. Finally, ‘Consensus based approach’ was adopted by the mental health professionals to arrive at objective (b) i.e. statements reflecting ‘good’ or ‘bad’ practice.ResultsFinal questionnaire comprised 15 statements with adequate face and content validity and high test-retest reliability (Cronbach's alpha = 0.747). 6 items reflected ‘good’ and 9 reflected ‘poor’ practice respectively with maximum score of 15; and categorization from ‘very poor’ to ‘very good’ practices.ConclusionThis preliminary yet simple and easy to use tool will give better understanding about how family members provide ‘care-giving’ practices for patients with schizophrenia. However, this needs further validation, replicability, and possible modifications in a multi-cultural, multi-linguistic country like India.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Profile of users of a new E-Mental Health ecological momentary assessment web-based program: MEmind

2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. S111-S112
Author(s):  
C. Bonal ◽  
M.L. Barrigon ◽  
J.J. Carballo ◽  
E. Baca-Garcia ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Ecological Momentary Assessment ◽  
Web Application ◽  
First Year ◽  
Web Page ◽  
Neurotic Disorder ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Competing Interest ◽  
Ecological Momentary ◽  
Momentary Assessment

Backgrounde-Mental Health is an emergent area within e-Health. In the evaluation area, ecological momentary assessment (EMA) has been used to investigate separately on different psychiatric disorders while a comprehensive tool to cover the entire spectrum of mental health has not yet been developed. In this study, we aimed to present the MEmind wellness tracker and to characterize the group of patients who use it.MethodsWe developed an EMA web application: MEmind, accessed through the web page http://www.memind.net. Since 20th May 2014 on, adult outpatients (n = 13,883) attended in all psychiatric services within the Psychiatry Department of Fundación Jimenez Diaz in Madrid were proposed to use MEmind and then registered. Data collected from first year of implementation of the tool were transferred to an SPSS sheet and then analysed. A comparison between patients using and not using MEmind were performed.ResultsMEmind users (n = 2842) were significantly younger than MEmind non-users (n = 11,041) (42.2 ± 13.5 vs. 48.5 ± 16.3; P = 0.000) and mostly women (65% vs. 61.4%; P = 0.001). Also, patients with neurotic disorders were the main users of MEmind (see Table 1). Furthermore, patients with thoughts about death and suicide were more likely to use MEmind (Table 2).ConclusionsWomen, young people and patients with neurotic disorder were the main users of MEmind. Furthermore, people with suicidal thoughts were willing to use MEmind. Novel interventions for suicide prevention could be developed with the use of EMA web-based tools. Further studies are warranted.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

New Technologies in Suicide Prevention

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S148-S149
Author(s):  
M. Pompili
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Role Playing ◽  
Comprehensive Overview ◽  
High Expectations ◽  
Vulnerable People ◽  
Competing Interest

IntroductionThe use of new technologies is beginning to be embraced by volunteers and professionals, from crisis lines, suicide prevention centers, mental health centers, researchers and politicians.ObjectivesNew technologies have entered the field of suicide prevention with high expectations for the future, despite a relatively slow start. Internet, smartphones, apps, social networks and self-help computer programs have a strong potential to achieve, sustain and help people at risk of suicide, their families, teachers, health professionals and for the survivors.AimsTo provide comprehensive overview on the role of new technologies in suicide prevention.MethodsGiven the relatively early and underdeveloped state of this area of inquiry, the author viewed his task as gathering and critically appraising the available research relevant to the topic, with the aim of formulating a hypothesis to be tested with further research.ResultsNew cheaper services will soon be available to effectively reach and assist the most vulnerable people and prevent suicides. The potential to help vulnerable people who do not use conventional mental health services and people in regions with inadequate psychiatric facilities represents an attractive target with favourable perspectives for suicide prevention Smartphone, apps, websites, avatar coach, and virtual suicidal subjects are important for both delivering help as well as to educate mental health professionals as in the case of role playing.ConclusionsShadows and lights are emerging through the use of new technologies. If more people can be reached there are however concern for improper use of social network and pro-suicide websites.Disclosure of interestThe author has not supplied his/her declaration of competing interest.

scholarly journals When less is more: reducing redundancy in mental health and psychosocial instruments using Item Response Theory

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily E. Haroz ◽  
Jeremy C. Kane ◽  
Amanda J. Nguyen ◽  
Judith K. Bass ◽  
Laura K. Murray ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Item Response Theory ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Item Response ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Response Theory ◽  
Less Is More ◽  
Stress Scale

Abstract Background There is a need for accurate and efficient assessment tools that cover a range of mental health and psychosocial problems. Existing, lengthy self-report assessments may reduce accuracy due to respondent fatigue. Using data from a sample of adults enrolled in a psychotherapy randomized trial in Thailand and a cross-sectional sample of adolescents in Zambia, we leveraged Item Response Theory (IRT) methods to create brief, psychometrically sound, mental health measures. Methods We used graded-response models to refine scales by identifying and removing poor performing items that were not well correlated with the underlying trait, and by identifying well-performing items at varying levels of a latent trait to assist in screening or monitoring purposes. Results In Thailand, the original 17-item depression scale was shortened to seven items and the 30-item Posttraumatic Stress Scale (PTS) was shortened to 10. In Zambia, the Child Posttraumatic Stress Scale (CPSS) was shortened from 17 items to six. Shortened scales in both settings retained the strength of their psychometric properties. When examining longitudinal intervention effects in Thailand, effect sizes were comparable in magnitude for the shortened and standard versions. Conclusions Using Item Response Theory (IRT) we created shortened valid measures that can be used to help guide clinical decisions and function as longitudinal research tools. The results of this analysis demonstrate the reliability and validity of shortened scales in each of the two settings and an approach that can be generalized more broadly to help improve screening, monitoring, and evaluation of mental health and psychosocial programs globally.

Anxiety Depression and Burden among the Caregivers of Persons with Neurological Illness

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 63
Author(s):  
Anil Kumar Roy ◽  
Nilesh Maruti Gujar ◽  
Arif Ali ◽  
Utpal Borah
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Hospital Anxiety ◽  
Care Burden ◽  
Neurological Illness ◽  
Rehabilitation Sciences ◽  
Anxiety Depression

Background: Studies have shown that caregivers of the persons with the neurological illness have high levels of psychological distress, depression and caregiver’s burden. The aim of the study was to find out anxiety, depression and caregiver’s burden among the caregivers of persons with neurological illness (PWNI). Method: Thirty caregivers of PWNI attending the Centre of Rehabilitation Sciences, LGB Regional Institute of Mental Health, Tezpur, Assam were selected using purposive sampling technique for the present study. Socio-demographic and clinical data sheet, Zarit Burden Interview Scale and The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were used. Results: The results shown that in Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, 26.6% of the caregivers' scores were in the abnormal range in the domain of depression. While in the domain of anxiety, 16.6% scored in the abnormal range. In Zarit Burden of Scale, 13.3% of the caregivers were having little or no burden, 26.6% of the caregivers were having mild to moderate level of burden, 20% were having moderate to severe burden and 30% were having a severe burden of care. Care burden has significant positive correlation with depression (r= .124, p≤ 0.01 and anxiety (r= .124, p≤ 0.05). Conclusion: Caregivers of PWNI have been found to be at higher risk of mental health problems and care burden. The importance of addressing the burden of caregivers involved in the care of PWNI need to be taken into consideration while providing treatment and rehabilitation of PWNI.     Keywords: Anxiety, depression, burden, neurological illness

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