New care models: harnessing technology explores how digital solutions, implemented by vanguards, are helping health and care to respond to the needs of patients, rising demand for services, constraints on funding and many workforce challenges.
The growing understanding that mood disorders are dynamic in nature and fluctuate over variable epochs of time has compelled researchers to develop innovative methods of monitoring mood. Technological advancement now allows for the detection of minute-to-minute changes while also capturing a longitudinal perspective of an individual’s illness. Traditionally, assessments of mood have been conducted by means of clinical interviews and paper surveys. However, these methods are often inaccurate due to recall bias and compliance issues, and are limited in their capacity to collect and process data over long periods of time. The increased capability, availability and affordability of digital technologies in recent decades has offered a novel, non-invasive alternative to monitoring mood and emotion in daily life. This paper reviews the emerging literature addressing the use of digital mood tracking technologies, primarily focusing on the strengths and inherent limitations of using these new methods including electronic self-report, behavioural data collection and wearable physiological biosensors. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
The project has seen eight care homes in North Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent provided with a specialised medical trolley with an iPad attached, loaded with Skype and self-monitoring equipment. These are then linked to an extended network of primary care specialists, meaning quicker and easier access to expert advice.
Background: Use of mobile health (mHealth) apps is growing at an exponential rate in the United States and around the world. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI), Alzheimer disease, and related dementias are a global health problem. Numerous mHealth interventions exist for this population, yet the effect of these interventions on health has not been systematically described.
The technology, which is installed in one of the hospital’s seclusion suites, turns standard optical sensors into non-contact health and human activity monitors, and alerts staff to check the patient if no human signals are detected in an occupied room.
The money from the Health Foundation, an independent health and health care charity, will fund development of a sophisticated data dashboard and analysis tool that identifies high risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, kidney failure and diabetes in those with psychosis.
CAMHS Live provides a safe and fully confidential live online chat service for young people aged 13-18 year olds or for their parent or carer to seek guidance and further information with regards to any emotional wellbeing or mental health issue that the young person may have.
This service is available weekdays from 10am to 4.30pm.
Any emotional wellbeing or mental health issue can be discussed through the live chat and all conversations are dealt with sensitively even if not relevant to onwards sign-posting and information.
The main purpose of the service is to facilitate a referral directly to the relevant mental health services.
Conclusions: This is the first known study of the use of a commercially available app as an intervention on acute psychiatric inpatient units. Acutely ill psychiatric inpatients at a state hospital found the Headspace app easy to use, were able to complete a series of meditations, and felt the app helped with anxiety, sleep, and boredom on the unit. There were no instances of an increase in psychotic symptoms reported and there were no episodes of aggression or violence noted in the record.
Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy9.Suppl 1 (Aug 2017): 42-50.
Objective: PTSD and depression are related to perceived physical health impairment in veterans, but little is known about the effects of psychological treatment on impairment. We examined the impact of an interactive online treatment for veterans with trauma-related distress, including (a) whether treatment effects include reduced perceived physical impairment, and (b) how these treatment effects are related to symptoms of PTSD and depression. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
Online and mobile telephone applications (‘apps’) have the potential to improve the scalability of effective interventions for suicidal ideation and self-harm. The aim of this review was therefore to investigate the effectiveness of digital interventions for the self-management of suicidal ideation or self-harm.
Objective: This study evaluated the applicability of Man Central, a new Web and mobile phone intervention for men with depression. The impact of the use of Man Central on depression, resilience, and work and social functioning was assessed.
Pillboxes can be an effective strategy to improve medication adherence. Improvements in device prescription, training, research, and design are needed to understand the mechanisms and size of effects of this intervention. SSSFT - You can request a copy of this article by replying to this email. Please ensure you are clear which article you are requesting.
Older adults are slower to adapt to newer technologies. It appears it is not the degree of physical restrictions, but rather the degree of adaptability to these restrictions that influence the use of ICT. SSSFT - You can request a copy of this article by replying to this email. Please ensure you are clear which article you are requesting.
Objective: Our aim was to examine the technological and program delivery features of Internet-based CBT and IPT for adolescent depression and to document their potential relation to treatment outcomes and program use.
Open access. Suicide-related behaviours are common in young people and associated with a range of negative outcomes. There are few evidence-based interventions; however, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) shows promise. Internet delivery of CBT is popular, with potential to increase reach and accessibility.
The aim of this systematic review is twofold: (1) to characterise the purpose and description of available social anxiety apps and (2) to review the evidence on the effectiveness of social anxiety apps. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.