Text Messaging as a Mental Health Treatment Intervention: A Corpus-Based Study

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Megan Partch ◽  
Cass Dykeman
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Treatment ◽  
Text Messaging ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Text Message ◽  
Treatment Session ◽  
Text Messages ◽  
Health Treatment ◽  
Emotional Tone

Mental health treatment providers seek high-impact and low-cost means of engaging clients in care. As such, text messaging is becoming more frequently utilized as a means of communication between provider and client. Research demonstrates that text message interventions increase treatment session attendance, decrease symptomology, and improve overall functioning. However, research is lacking related to the linguistic make up of provider communications. Text messages were collected from previously published articles related to the treatment of mental health disorders. A corpus of 39 mental health treatment text message interventions was composed totaling 286 words. Using Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC) software, messages were analyzed for prevalence of terminology thought to enhance client engagement. Clout, demonstrating the writer’s confidence and expertise, and positive Emotional Tone were found to be at a high level within the corpus. Results demonstrated statistical significance for five linguistic variables. When compared with national blog norms derived from Twitter, Clout, Emotional Tone, and use of Biological terminology were found to be at higher rates than expected. Authenticity and Informal terminology were found at significantly lesser rates.

Using Theory to Drive Influenza Related Text Messaging Interventions

2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 44-58
Author(s):  
Patricia Wiseman ◽  
Kathie Records
Keyword(s):  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Text Messaging ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Text Message ◽  
Health Belief ◽  
Immunization Coverage ◽  
Text Messages ◽  
Message Content ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Immunization Practice

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice recommends all children be vaccinated annually against Influenza. Given the increased use of technology as a strategy to increase immunization coverage, theory-based text messaging may result in higher vaccination rates than traditional vaccine reminders. This article describes the development of theory-based text messages for parents of 5 to 8-year-old children that can be implemented in primary care settings. The development of the text messages was guided by constructs from the Health Belief Model. A pilot study was conducted with community pediatric vaccine health care providers (n = 6), and parents of 5 to 8-year-old children (n = 8) to evaluate the text message content for clarity, internal consistency, and content validity. The evaluation results indicated that our intervention was successful in creating a low cost, theory-based educational intervention that garnered community investment and met the cultural relevance and literacy needs of the priority population.

scholarly journals Feasibility and Perception of Using Text Messages as an Adjunct Therapy for Low-Income, Minority Mothers With Postpartum Depression

2015 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. e4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew A Broom ◽  
Amy S Ladley ◽  
Elizabeth A Rhyne ◽  
Donna R Halloran
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Postpartum Depression ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Text Messaging ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Text Message ◽  
Text Messages ◽  
Adjunct Therapy ◽  
Traditional Counseling

Background Postpartum depression (PPD) is the most common medical problem among new mothers that can have a negative impact on infant health. Traditional treatments are often difficult for low-income mothers to complete, particularly given the numerous barriers families face. Objective Among low-income, primarily racial, and ethnic minority mothers with postpartum depression, our aim was to evaluate (1) the feasibility of sending supportive text messages, and (2) the perception of receiving private, supportive text messages for postpartum depression. Methods Mothers found to be at risk for postpartum depression received supportive text messages four times weekly for 6 months in addition to receiving access to traditional counseling services based within an academic pediatric office. Feasibility was evaluated along with cellular and text messaging use, access, and perception of the message protocol. Perception of the message protocol was evaluated at study completion via a Likert scale questionnaire and open-ended qualitative survey. Results In total, 4158/4790 (86.81%) text messages were successfully delivered to 54 mothers over a 6-month period at a low cost (US $777.60). Among the 96 scripted messages, 37 unique messages (38.54%) allowed for a response. Of all sent messages that allowed for responses, 7.30% (118/1616) were responded to, and 66.1% of those responses requested a call back; 46% (25/54) of mothers responded at least once to a text message. Mothers felt that messages were easily received and read (25/28, 89%) and relevant to them personally (23/28, 82%). Most shared texts with others (21/28, 75%). Conclusions Text messaging is feasible, well-accepted, and may serve as a simple, inexpensive adjunct therapy well-suited to cross socioeconomic boundaries and provide private support for at-risk mothers suffering from postpartum depression.

A Corpus Linguistics Study of Text Message Interventions in Substance Use Disorder Treatment

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Megan Partch ◽  
Cass Dykeman
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Substance Use Disorder ◽  
Corpus Linguistics ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Text Message ◽  
Treatment Session ◽  
Text Messages ◽  
Substance Use Disorder Treatment ◽  
National Norms ◽  
Disorder Treatment

Technology is being leveraged in numerous ways to improve client care. Health-related text messages aim to engage clients, assure treatment session attendance, and promote healthy habits. Research on the use of text messages in substance use disorder treatment demonstrates the efficacy of this intervention; however, research is lacking related to the linguistic composition of provider text messages. Text messages interventions were collected from previously published research on the treatment of substance use disorders. A corpus of 71 text messages was composed totaling 1,624 words. Using Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count software (LIWC), the corpora of text messages were examined for use of terminology thought to enhance client engagement. Results demonstrated statistical significance of six LIWC measures when compared against national blog norms (i.e., Twitter). Clout, a score that demonstrates writer expertise and confidence was higher than expected when compared to national norms, while Authenticity, writing that is both honest and personal in nature, was found to be significantly lower than expected. The Emotional Tone of text message communications from substance use disorder treatment providers was found to be neutral. The use of Biological terms and Leisure words were found to be more prevalent in substance use disorder treatment text messages than national norms. Informal terminology, however, was used at a lesser rate than expected.

Pilot study of psychotherapeutic text messaging for depression

2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (7) ◽  
pp. 665-672 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul N Pfeiffer ◽  
Jennifer Henry ◽  
Dara Ganoczy ◽  
John D Piette
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Text Messaging ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Text Message ◽  
Severe Depression ◽  
Text Messages ◽  
Service Development ◽  
Symptom Improvement ◽  
Behavioural Activation ◽  
Message Type

Background Text messaging services could increase access to psychotherapeutic content for individuals with depression by avoiding barriers to in-person psychotherapy such as cost, transportation, and therapist availability. Determining whether text messages reflecting different psychotherapeutic techniques exhibit differences in acceptability or effectiveness may help guide service development. Objectives We aimed to determine: (1) the feasibility of delivering a psychotherapy-based text messaging service to people with depression identified via the internet, (2) whether there is variation in satisfaction with messages according to the type of psychotherapeutic technique they represent, and (3) whether symptoms of depression vary according to receipt of each message type and participants’ satisfaction with the messages they received. Methods For this study 190 US adults who screened positive for a major depressive episode (Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) score ≥10) were recruited from online advertisements. Participants received a daily psychotherapy-based text message 6 days per week for 12 weeks. Text messages were developed by a team of psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers to reflect three psychotherapeutic approaches: acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), behavioural activation, and cognitive restructuring. Each week the message type for the week was randomly assigned from one of the three types, allowing for repeats. Participants were asked daily to rate each message. On the 7th day of each week, participants completed a two-item depression screener (PHQ-2). Web-based surveys at baseline, 6, and 12 weeks were used as the primary measure of depressive symptoms (PHQ-9). Results Of the 190 participants enrolled, 85 (45%) completed the 6-week web survey and 67 (35%) completed the 12-week survey. The mean baseline PHQ-9 score was 19.4 (SD 4.2) and there was a statistically significant mean improvement in PHQ-9 scores of −2.9 (SD 6.0; p < 0.001) at 6 weeks and −4.8 (SD 6.6; p < 0.001) at 12 weeks. Mean satisfaction ratings did not vary across message types. There was generally no association between the number of weeks in which participants received a given message type and PHQ-9 scores at follow-up. However, among individuals with more severe depression at baseline (PHQ-9 ≥ 20; n = 30), the number of weeks of behavioural activation messages received was associated with less symptom improvement (ρ = 0.37; p = 0.04) at 12 weeks. Participants who gave higher satisfaction ratings to messages regardless of type had greater reductions in PHQ-9 scores at 6 weeks. Conclusions Study participants exhibited borderline clinically significant improvement in depressive symptoms at 12 weeks suggesting the effects of the intervention, if any, were small. Although there was no overall variation in changes in PHQ-9 according to users’ exposure to the three message types, effectiveness among severely depressed participants could potentially be improved by tailoring towards fewer behavioural activation messages. Controlled studies to determine effectiveness of texting interventions such as this one are indicated considering that even small effects may be cost effective given the low cost of delivering text messages.

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