Digital therapeutic tools in the treatment of mild to moderate depression and anxiety disorders

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valentin Tablan ◽  
Michael Ewbank
Author(s):  
Kate Hamilton-West ◽  
Tracy Pellatt-Higgins ◽  
Farnaaz Sharief

Abstract Aim Research identifies a need for expanded therapeutic options for people with mild-to-moderate depression and anxiety disorders treated within the UK National Health Service (NHS). We aimed to examine potential benefits of a Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY) based breath intervention delivered in this context. Background SKY is a structured programme derived from yoga in which participants are taught relaxation and stress-management techniques including body postures, breathing exercises and cognitive-behavioural procedures. Previous research has demonstrated benefits for patients with clinical and non-clinical depression and anxiety. However, SKY has not yet been evaluated as a therapeutic option for patients accessing NHS primary care mental health services. Methods We evaluated an existing programme available to NHS patients in South East England. The intervention is community-based and delivered via four weekly ‘stress buster sessions’ (1-h duration), one weekend intensive workshop (2.5 days) and four weekly (90 min) follow-up sessions. Analyses were conducted on existing data [measures of depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9) and anxiety (generalised anxiety disorder-7)] collected as part of routine care, at the start of the programme and three follow-up assessments. Findings Baseline data were available for 991 participants, of which 557 (56.2%) attended at least three weekly workshops, 216 (21.8%) attended the weekend workshop and 169 (17.1%) completed the programme. Statistically significant (P<0.05) improvements in depression and anxiety were observed in all three outcome assessments. Clinically meaningful change was observed for 74.6% of participants completing the programme. Findings indicate that SKY has the potential to benefit patient outcomes and could be offered more widely as a therapeutic option. We recommend further research to explore patients’ experiences of the programme, determine the number of sessions necessary for improvement/ recovery, define the population most likely to respond and examine potential cost savings (e.g., reductions in antidepressant prescribing/referrals to secondary care).


2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 1808.2-1809
Author(s):  
D. Karatas ◽  
Z. Öztürk ◽  
D. Cekic ◽  
Z. Yuertsever ◽  
Ü. Erkorkmaz ◽  
...  

Background:Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is a hereditary autoinflammatory disease characterized by recurrent attacks of fever, peritonitis, pleuritis, arthritis, and skin eruption (1). It is shown by studies that chronic diseases like diabetes mellitus, chronic heart disease, hypertension which other than inflammatory – rheumatologic disease increase depression and anxiety (2). There are a few studies evaluating depression and anxiety in FMF patients, and these results are conflicting (3,4).Objectives:To assess the frequency of depression and anxiety in patients with Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF)Methods:In this study, 77 FMF patients aged 18 and over who were followed up in Sakarya University Education and Research Hospital, Department of Rheumatology, and 78 healthy volunteers aged 18 and over as thecontrol group. Beck depression scale and Beck anxiety scale were used to depression and anxiety, respectively. Beck’sdepression scale was evaluated as 9 and below normal, 10-16 mild depression, 17-29 moderate depression, 30-63 severe depression. Beck anxiety scale was evaluated as 0-8 normal, 8-15 mild anxiety, 16-25 moderate anxiety, 26 and above severe anxiety.FMF disease severity was determined by Pras scoring.Results:The study group, comprised 77 diagnosed with FMF with a meanage of 37.18 and a control group comprised of 78 healthy controls (C) with a meanage of 35.32 (p=0,058). İn studygroup (P) %63.6, control group (C) %53.8 as female. %36.4 of thestudy group(C), %46.2 of the control group are male. (p=0,216). The prevalence of depression was significantly higher in FMF patients compared to the control group (in order P;C: normal %24,7; %47,4, mild depression: %40.3; %26.9, moderate depression %26; %19.2, severe depression %11.7; %6.4 p<0.015). Similarly in depression results; the prevalence of anxiety was significantly higher in FMF patients compared to the control group (in order P;C normal %23,4; %57.7, mild anxiety %26; %20.5, moderate anxiety %26; %15.4, severe anxiety %24.4; %6.4 p<0,001). Depression status was not correlated with FMF disease severity (p=0.645). A correlation was found between FMF severity and anxiety which it is which was found statistically significant (p=0.005).There was no relationship between erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein with depression and anxiety.Conclusion:Both anxiety and depression frequency are increased in FMF patients compared to healthy controls.References:[1]Livneh A, Langevitz P, Zemer D et al. (1997) Criteria for the diagnosis of familial Mediterranean fever. Arthritis Rheum 40 (10), 1879–85.[2]Alonso J, Ferrer M, Gandek B, Ware JE Jr, Aaronson NK, Mosconi P, Rasmussen NK, Bullinger M, Fukuhara S, Kaasa S, Leplège A, IQOLA Project Group (2004) Health-related quality of life associated with chronic conditions in eight countries: results from the International Quality of Life Assessment (IQOLA) Project. Qual Life Res 13:283–298[3]Makay B, Emiroglu N, Unsal E (2010) Depression andanxiety in children and adolescents with familial Mediterranean fever. Clin Rheumatol 29, 375–9.[4]Giese A, Ornek A, Kilic L, Kurucay M, Sendur S. N., Lainka E, Henning B. F. Anxiety and depression in adult patients with familialMediterranean fever: a study comparing patients living in Germany and Turkey. International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases 2017; 20: 2093–2100Disclosure of Interests:None declared


2009 ◽  
Vol 16 (26) ◽  
pp. 3359-3380 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Taliani ◽  
F. Da Settimo ◽  
E. Da Pozzo ◽  
B. Chelli ◽  
C. Martini

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