Bengaluru: Government-run National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (Nimhans) has come up with an innovative way to help people cope with depression. Its new app PUSH-D (Practice and Use Self- Help for Depression) helps users learn, strengthen and practice psychological skills that can be useful in dealing with depressive symptoms.
"It is in the pilot phase and some 250 people have reached out since the launch. It started as a research project sanctioned by ICMR, and it took a year to develop the material that can be accessed online. We are now in the last leg of testing and understanding the user perceptivity and feedback,” said Dr Seema Mehrotra, professor, Clinical Psychology, Nimhans.
“Despite being accessible to anyone with mild to moderate depression, the first evaluation is a must,” stresses Dr Seema. “First evaluation is required since it is a self-care low-intensity intervention for people with mild to moderate depression. Face to face evaluation is good but not essential. Evaluation is the most important step to generate the username and Password,” says Dr Seema.
“We contact them and conduct the consultation over Skype or the telephone and only after assessing whether the case is of mild to moderate depression, do we tailor make a psychotherapy programme for them,” explains Dr Seema.
The 6-8 week long programme requires a person to use the application which has a series of modules at least 2-3 times every week. “After the initial evaluation, which takes some two hours, a person needs to use the app at least 2-3 times a week. They need to log in at least twice a week and we recommend that they spend some thirty minutes each session so that they can complete the programme in one-and-a-half to two months time. There are people who have completed the session in one-and-a-half months as well,” she said.
The app’s functioning is based on same psychotherapeutic or psychological approaches that have been applied in the management of depression in face-to-face therapy interactions. The techniques incorporated in this programme are based on principles of Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Interpersonal Therapy (IPT), Supportive Therapy as well as Positive Psychology.
“The module has been designed using contents of psycho-education, positive psychology, cognition and behavioural therapy,” she explained. The app is divided into two zones; essential zone (which has ten sections and each section opens sequentially) and an optional zone which can be accessed randomly by the user. Currently, there are 50 registered users.
'PUSH-D' specs:
- Self-driven and assisted: This programme is primarily self-driven, but user’s motivation will be maintained through periodic mobile prompts and weekly phone calls.
- Self-scheduling: Users can schedule their own week-days and timings to go over the programme content and learn from it.
- Can be done from home: You need not travel to a hospital or clinic to access and complete this programme.
- Computer or mobile based: The programme requires access to computer or smartphone.
- Internet-based: The app requires internet access.
