User Perspective of e-treatment by SOPHIE DUNN https://padlet.com/17002451/vdt706ucp8ux en-us 2019-02-05 14:08:36 UTC 2026-01-04 21:54:59 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/icons/Planets.png Benefits and disadvantages 17002451 https://padlet.com/17002451/vdt706ucp8ux/wish/327773393 It is important to ask, with the rise in technology, how this could benefit mental health treatment for users. For example, there is evidence that structured treatments such as cognitive therapy can help prevent a relapse. It is suggested by Teasdale, Segal and Williams (1995) that similar results can be achieved through stress reduction treatments such as mindfulness. Bondolfi (2013) defined mindfulness as an awareness of the present encouraging acceptance and openness. Therefore, e-treatments can be beneficial to the user as they encourage grounding and awareness promoting mental health. Whilst mindfulness can be beneficial to those in good mental health, it has also been demonstrated by Piet and Hougaard (2011) to be at least as effective as antidepressants. However, the credibility for users of apps has been questioned. For example, researchers led by Mani (2015) found that whilst apps claim to be mindfulness related a majority were guided meditation apps. Therefore, users are being misled. In addition to this, Daudén Roquet and Sas (2018) found that few apps had a way to measure effectiveness for the individual therefore user’s experiences may be affected because they can’t measure the benefits of the apps. In addition, in app purchases to gain access to the full features limits accessibility. Those engaging with the app, may be on benefits for mental health issues and this could impact whether they can afford this. Furthermore, children would need to use a debit card which would lead to a lack of anonymity. The payment in these apps, is in contrast to the NHS’ free at point of treatment policy meaning despite the often long wait for treatment is still more accessible.This could lead to some users having a limited experience of the app which may be less useful. On the other hand, this allows better funding for app development leading to new features and a better experience for users.]]> 2019-02-05 14:18:46 UTC https://padlet.com/17002451/vdt706ucp8ux/wish/327773393 Positive uses of technology faced with the issues of privacy 17002451 https://padlet.com/17002451/vdt706ucp8ux/wish/327773505 Kenny (2016) found the use of technology is beneficial to young users, because when asked they identified benefits including safety, functionality, accessibility and young people in control. A group of researchers led by Radovic (2016) claimed this is important when considering that many adolescents do not seek treatment for mental health problems and therefore any method is important to consider. Despite this, Giota and Kleftaras (2014) suggests many old practitioners feel intimidated and may not recommend apps. In addition to this, psychologists and GPs may not recommend these apps out of fear it threatens their jobs.

What is beneficial to young users, may be less beneficial to older users, who may have a lower understanding of technology and therefore find these apps inaccessible as they may not own the technology or have the understanding to engage with it.

An issue which is emerging is privacy. McCarthy (2013) 43 health and fitness apps were examined, and these apps enabled people to input their personal information including mental health and share this through apps such as Facebook. An issue is that a mistap by the individual particularly in older adults could release private information. Daudén Roquet and Sas (2016) showed 89% of mental health apps had no mention of privacy and security. This may affect users perspective on e-treatments, as it may make them less likely to download apps fearing private information being leaked.
 


]]> 2019-02-05 14:18:58 UTC https://padlet.com/17002451/vdt706ucp8ux/wish/327773505 References 17002451 https://padlet.com/17002451/vdt706ucp8ux/wish/327774955 Bondolfi, G. (2013). 2993–Is mindfullness an evidence-based treatment?. European Psychiatry, 28, 1.

Daudén Roquet, C., & Sas, C. (2018, April). Evaluating Mindfulness Meditation Apps. In Extended Abstracts of the 2018 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (p. LBW575). ACM.

Giota, K. G., & Kleftaras, G. (2014). Mental health apps: innovations, risks and ethical considerations. E-Health Telecommunication Systems and Networks, 3(3), 19.

Kenny, R., Dooley, B., & Fitzgerald, A. (2016). Developing mental health mobile apps: exploring adolescents’ perspectives. Health informatics journal, 22(2), 265-275.

Mani, M., Kavanagh, D. J., Hides, L., & Stoyanov, S. R. (2015). Review and evaluation of mindfulness-based iPhone apps. JMIR mHealth and uHealth, 3(3).

McCarthy, M. (2013). Experts warn on data security in health and fitness apps. BMJ: British Medical Journal, 347.

Piet, J., & Hougaard, E. (2011). The effect of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for prevention of relapse in recurrent major depressive disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical psychology review, 31(6), 1032-1040.

Radovic, A., Vona, P. L., Santostefano, A. M., Ciaravino, S., Miller, E., & Stein, B. D. (2016). Smartphone applications for mental health. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 19(7), 465-470.

Teasdale, J. D., Segal, Z., & Williams, J. M. G. (1995). How does cognitive therapy prevent depressive relapse and why should attentional control (mindfulness) training help?. Behaviour Research and therapy, 33(1), 25-39.

 

]]> 2019-02-05 14:21:25 UTC https://padlet.com/17002451/vdt706ucp8ux/wish/327774955 Mental Health Apps 17002451 https://padlet.com/17002451/vdt706ucp8ux/wish/327791724 2019-02-05 14:45:30 UTC https://padlet.com/17002451/vdt706ucp8ux/wish/327791724 Apps for meditation 17002451 https://padlet.com/17002451/vdt706ucp8ux/wish/327795843 2019-02-05 14:50:31 UTC https://padlet.com/17002451/vdt706ucp8ux/wish/327795843