Computer-aided CBT self-help for anxiety and depressive disorders: experience of a London clinic and future directions.
This article describes a broad-spectrum, computer-aided self-help clinic that raised the throughput of anxious/depressed patients per clinician and lowered per-patient time with a clinician without impairing effectiveness. Many sufferers improved by using one of four computer-aided systems of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) self-help for phobia/panic, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and general anxiety. The systems are accessible at home, two by phone and two by the Web. Initial brief screening by a clinician can be done by phone, and if patients get stuck they can obtain brief live advice from a therapist on a phone helpline. Such clinician-extender systems offer hope for enhancing the convenience and confidentiality of guided self-help, reducing the per-patient cost of CBT, and lessening stigma. The case examples illustrate the clinical process and outcomes of the computer-aided system.
Gega
Lina
L
London University, United Kingdom.
Marks
Isaac
I
Mataix-Cols
David
D
D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D001292:Attitude to Computers; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008131:London; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services; D008875:Middle Aged; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D012648:Self Care / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014584:User-Computer Interface