Development of an online intervention for bipolar disorder. www.moodswings.net.au.
We describe the development process and completed structure, of a self-help online intervention for bipolar disorder, known as MoodSwings ( www.moodswings.net.au) . The MoodSwings program was adapted as an Internet intervention from an efficacious and validated face-to-face, group-based psychosocial intervention. The adaptation was created by a psychologist, who had previously been involved with the validation of the face-to-face program, in collaboration with website designers. The project was conducted under the supervision of a team of clinician researchers. The website is available at no cost to registered participants. Self-help modules are accessed sequentially. Other features include a mood diary and a moderated discussion board. There has been an average of 1,475,135 hits on the site annually (2008 and 2009), with some 7400 unique visitors each year. A randomised controlled trial based on this program has been completed. Many people with bipolar disorder are accepting of the Internet as a source of treatment and, once engaged, show acceptable retention rates. The Internet appears to be a viable means of delivering psychosocial self-help strategies.
Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Barwon Health, Geelong, Australia. caputo.and@libero.it
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Andrea
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Chester
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Dodd
Lesley
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Klein
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Gilbert
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Chamberlain
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D000328:Adult; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016730:Program Development; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods*; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*