Internet chat offers new approach in mental health

Mental health treatment based on the use of internet chat after in-patient care produced positive results in a controlled trial conducted by researchers at Heildelberg University.

They conclude that modern communication technologies offer novel opportunities for the provision of stepped care for patients with mental disorders.

The study, published in the July issue of the Journal of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics investigated the effectiveness of group therapy delivered through an internet chat following inpatient treatment.

The main goal of the program was to reduce the risk of losing the therapeutic benefits achieved during the preceding inpatient treatment. 114 patients participated in one of two parallel groups of 8-10 patients that met with a group therapist in an internet chat room.

The groups met weekly for 12-15 weeks for 90 minutes. Controls were 114 patients who did not participate in the chat groups and were matched by application of propensity score methods.

The main criterion was derived from comprehensive assessments of changes in health status comprising the psychological and physical condition of the patients.

Assessments were conducted at admission, discharge and 12 months after discharge. 12 months after discharge, chat participants showed a substantially lower risk (24.7%) for negative outcome than controls (38.5%).

The researchers, add: “Furthermore, the low dropout rate and the high session attendance supported the expectation that this novel offer met patients' needs, and thus, opens a new avenue for the optimisation of care for patients with mental disorders.”