title: Understanding the acceptability of e-mental health--attitudes and expectations towards computerised self-help treatments for mental health problems.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  E-mental health and m-mental health include the use of technology in the prevention, treatment and aftercare of mental health problems. With the economical pressure on mental health services increasing, e-mental health and m-mental health could bridge treatment gaps, reduce waiting times for patients and deliver interventions at lower costs. However, despite the existence of numerous effective interventions, the transition of computerised interventions into care is slow. The aim of the present study was to investigate the acceptability of e-mental health and m-mental health in the general population.
  
  
  METHODS
  An advisory group of service users identified dimensions that potentially influence an individual's decision to engage with a particular treatment for mental health problems. A large sample (N = 490) recruited through email, flyers and social media was asked to rate the acceptability of different treatment options for mental health problems on these domains. Results were analysed using repeated measures MANOVA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants rated the perceived helpfulness of an intervention, the ability to motivate users, intervention credibility, and immediate access without waiting time as most important dimensions with regard to engaging with a treatment for mental health problems. Participants expected face-to-face therapy to meet their needs on most of these dimensions. Computerised treatments and smartphone applications for mental health were reported to not meet participants' expectations on most domains. However, these interventions scored higher than face-to-face treatments on domains associated with the convenience of access. Overall, participants reported a very low likelihood of using computerised treatments for mental health in the future.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Individuals in this study expressed negative views about computerised self-help intervention and low likelihood of use in the future. To improve the implementation and uptake, policy makers need to improve the public perception of such interventions.
authors.affiliation: King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, PO-Box 077, London SE5 8AF, UK. Peter.Musiat@kcl.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Musiat
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Goldstone
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tarrier
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001290:Attitude; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D008603:Mental Health; D008605:Mental Health Services; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D019114:Remote Consultation; D012648:Self Care; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted; D055815:Young Adult
references.citation: Br J Psychiatry. 2008 Oct;193(4):270-1
references.pmid: 18827286
references.citation: Clin Psychol Rev. 2012 Jun;32(4):329-42
references.pmid: 22466510
references.citation: PLoS One. 2011 Mar 25;6(3):e18001
references.pmid: 21483704
references.citation: Psychol Health. 2010 Jul;25(6):699-712
references.pmid: 20204955
references.citation: BMC Gastroenterol. 2010 Nov 18;10:136
references.pmid: 21087463
references.citation: Psychol Med. 2014 Nov;44(15):3137-50
references.pmid: 25065947
references.citation: Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013 Sep 09;(9):CD005330
references.pmid: 24018460
references.citation: Behav Res Ther. 2007 May;45(5):849-61
references.pmid: 17010306
references.citation: Health Expect. 2009 Mar;12(1):45-59
references.pmid: 19250152
references.citation: J Consult Clin Psychol. 2012 Aug;80(4):649-61
references.pmid: 22250855
references.citation: J Ment Health. 2012 Aug;21(4):395-403
references.pmid: 22712756
references.citation: Br J Clin Psychol. 2010 Nov;49(Pt 4):455-71
references.pmid: 19799804
references.citation: Psychol Med. 2008 Nov;38(11):1521-30
references.pmid: 18205964
references.citation: PLoS One. 2011;6(6):e20548
references.pmid: 21673987
references.citation: Eur Eat Disord Rev. 2012 Jan;20(1):1-8
references.pmid: 21796737
references.citation: Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2004 May;28(3):353-63
references.pmid: 15225977
references.citation: J Behav Med. 2008 Apr;31(2):169-77
references.pmid: 18165893
references.citation: Australas Psychiatry. 2011 Jun;19(3):259-64
references.pmid: 21682626
references.citation: Cyberpsychol Behav. 2005 Apr;8(2):172-7
references.pmid: 15938657
references.citation: Adm Policy Ment Health. 2013 Mar;40(2):87-95
references.pmid: 22001968
references.citation: Psychol Med. 2009 May;39(5):705-12
references.pmid: 18812006
references.citation: J Med Internet Res. 2011 Jun 30;13(2):e42
references.pmid: 21719411