Computer-assisted treatment
- November 21, 2016
"Can Technology Help Treat Depression?"
- A joint venture with the UofL Depression Center, the Department of Family and Geriatric Medicine and the Kent School of Social Work
This new study marks an important advance in CCBT research. Primary care patients from three clinics (two urban and one rural) associated with the Department of Family and Geriatric Medicine at the UofL are randomly assigned to receive CCBT or treatment as usual. The CCBT program includes use of a computer program (Good Days Ahead) specifically designed for treatment of depression in addition to weekly phone calls (for 12 weeks) from a therapy coach. The coach helps the patient apply cognitive-behavior therapy skills in everyday life.
Researchers from the UofL Depression Center are studying the effectiveness of computerassisted cognitive-behavior therapy in primary care patients with depression. The study is led by Dr. Jesse Wright, Director of the UofL Depression Center, who helped develop the computerized treatment program used in the research.
Previous research by Dr. Wright and his associates at the UofL and other universities has shown that computerassisted cognitive-behavior therapy (CCBT) is just as effective as standard cognitive-behavior therapy(CBT) despite reducing time with a therapist by up to two thirds.
The goals of CCBT are to:
- make therapy more efficient (reduce reliance on long visits to a therapist)
- lower the cost of treatment
- provide broader access to effective therapy.
Earlier research that demonstrated effectiveness of CCBT was done in mental health settings.
This research is an example of collaborations that are promoted by the UofL Depression Center. Coinvestigators include Drs. Becky Antle and Lesley Harris from the Kent School of Social Work, Jason Wells and Renee Girdler
- Jesse Wright, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor, Director of the UofL Depression Center