Healthy living
Mind matters
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Computer therapy for depression and anxiety offered to patients in England
People with mild depression and anxiety will have access to computer therapy from April 2007, according to Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt. Speaking at the annual MIND conference on 28 March, she said: "Mental health services have clearly improved substantially, but we want to offer patients even greater choice over how, when and where they are treated."
Patients will be able to use computerised Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (cCBT) from wherever they are - work, home, the library, or anywhere else they can access the internet.
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has already approved two computer-based programs for use by the NHS - Fear Fighter for treating people who have phobias or suffer from panic attacks, and Beating the Blues for treating people with mild to moderate depression.
Depression affects two in three adults at some time in their life. This can be mild and last just a few weeks; however, about one in four women and one in 10 men experience episodes of depression serious enough to require treatment .
Generally, treatments are divided into those used for mild depression and those for moderate and severe depression. The former include counselling, antidepressants (although not usually prescribed initially) and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).
CBT is an effective form of psychotherapy that emphasises the role of thinking in how we feel and what we do. The Beating the blues program, like the face-to-face treatment, focuses on encouraging users to set achievable goals for the future rather than reflecting on their past experiences. The complete course consists of eight one-hour sessions at the computer.
However, cCBT, as it's known, will not suit everyone. MIND Chief Executive Paul Farmer agrees that while it is an important addition to treatment options due to its convenience and accessibility: "It is also important that the human touch is not lost and that electronic therapy is backed up by trained staff who can provide the necessary support and encouragement to users."
Common symptoms of depression include
- Low mood for most of the day, nearly every day
- Sleeping problems
- Abnormal sadness, often with weepiness
- Irritability, agitation, or restlessness
- Lacking in energy, always tired
- Poor motivation
- Poor concentration
- Poor appetite and weight loss, or comfort eating and weight gain
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Information on this site is for interest only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. You should consult your own doctor about any specific health concerns.
