It is well known that drugs aren't a simple answer for dealing
with mental health disorders. Therapy is often required to support
people to develop understanding and learn vital skills for managing
and moving beyond difficulties such as anxiety or depression.
Cognitive behaviour therapy in particular has been show to provide
real positive outcomes for anxiety and depression, disorders which
are compounded by negative thought patterns or associated
behaviours.
Unfortunately, cognitive behaviour therapy requires specialists
and intensive sessions, and can be time consuming. It makes sense
to solve this problem by creating online resources and programs
that can be done outside of therapeutic sessions, with support from
professionals, but does it really work?
A team of Australian researchers say yes - and that it can be
just as effective as face to face CBT therapy. Highlighted in a
recent article by Prevention Action - an online news publication on
youth health and development - research led by psychologist Susan
Spence at Griffith University indicated that:
"When the program was complete
after 12 weeks, both the web-based and traditional CBT groups
showed significant improvement over the waiting list control group,
both on the primary diagnosis of anxiety disorder, and on other
secondary anxiety disorders. Perhaps more important, there was no
significant difference between the effectiveness of the traditional
CBT and the web-based delivery."
Prevention
Action, 26 January 2012
Read the full article online here, and find out more about what
the researchers found.
Or, for an in depth run down on the online CBT program MoodGym
and the evidence base behind using it with young people,
watch a video from our recent webinar where Suvena Sethi
(University of Sydney) shares her knowledge on MoodGym's
impact.
For reviews of online CBT tools you can use in your
practice, visit the reviews section of
ReachOutPro.com.au
What is your experience as a health
professional? Have you used online CBT programs such as
MoodGym or eCouch, and if so how did they benefit young people's
skills in managing depression or anxiety?
Share your experience via the comments below!