Epsychology

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Epsychology is a form of psychological intervention delivered via information and communication technology. [1] epsychology interventions have most commonly been applied in areas of health; examples are depression, [2] adherence to medication, [3] and smoking cessation. [4] Future applications of epsychology interventions are likely to become increasingly more common in information, organization, and management sciences (e.g. organizational change, conflict management and negotiation skills).

Contents

Recently, several meta-analyses have documented the effects of epsychology interventions. [5] [6] [7] In general, it appears that intensive theory-based interventions that include multiple behaviour change techniques and modes of delivery (e.g. mobile phones and the Internet) are the most effective. [7] More specifically, interventions based on the theory of planned behaviour [8] and cognitive-behavioural therapy [5] seem to provide the most promising results. These findings should, however, be interpreted with caution as many research articles fail to report the theoretical underpinnings of epsychology interventions adequately. [9]

Business and commercialization

Lifestyle and non-communicable diseases, such as excessive alcohol consumption, depression, and physical inactivity, are the leading causes of morbidity and premature mortality. [10] Thus, there is a great potential for utilizing epsychology to reach out and deliver prevention and treatment to the public by means of information technology. Information technology has a high scalability and given the usage and population statistics on, for example, Internet technology, [11] researchers argue that we[ who? ] simply cannot afford to ignore information technology as a viable approach to public health. [12]

Among the first companies to take advantage of the new technological opportunities combined with state-of-the-art psychological research were Health Media in the US (later acquired by Johnson & Johnson) and the privately held Changetech AS in Norway.[ citation needed ] Epsychology interventions are considered a supplement to existing treatments rather than a substitute, although such interventions can be used as a stand-alone treatment given that they are more cost-effective than standard treatment.

Pharmaceutical companies Janssen-Cilag and Novartis [13] were also early out with patient-support programs that came with the patients' medication. The purpose in such programs is primarily to help patients take their medication as prescribed. A lack of medical compliance is a serious health problem even among patients diagnosed with severe and potentially fatal diseases such as cancer [14] or HIV/AIDS. [15] In fact, in one study about 70% of hospital visits for adverse drug reactions were caused by inadequate medical compliance. [16] Although patient-support programs may lack in theoretical orientation, it is clear that they try to help patients manage an inherent psychological problem.

See also

Related Research Articles

Cognitive behavioral therapy Therapy to improve mental health

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a psycho-social intervention that aims to reduce symptoms of various mental health conditions, primarily depression and anxiety disorders. CBT focuses on challenging and changing cognitive distortions and behaviors, improving emotional regulation, and the development of personal coping strategies that target solving current problems. Though it was originally designed to treat depression, its uses have been expanded to include the treatment of a number of mental health conditions, including anxiety, alcohol and drug use problems, marital problems, and eating disorders. CBT includes a number of cognitive or behavior psychotherapies that treat defined psychopathologies using evidence-based techniques and strategies.

Hypnotherapy is a type of mind-body intervention in which hypnosis is used to create a state of focused attention and increased suggestibility in the treatment of a medical or psychological disorder or concern.

Hypochondriasis Medical condition

Hypochondriasis or hypochondria is a condition in which a person is excessively and unduly worried about having a serious illness. An old concept, the meaning of hypochondria has repeatedly changed. It has been claimed that this debilitating condition results from an inaccurate perception of the condition of body or mind despite the absence of an actual medical diagnosis. An individual with hypochondriasis is known as a hypochondriac. Hypochondriacs become unduly alarmed about any physical or psychological symptoms they detect, no matter how minor the symptom may be, and are convinced that they have, or are about to be diagnosed with, a serious illness.

Smoking cessation Process of discontinuing tobacco smoking

Smoking cessation, usually called quitting smoking or stopping smoking, is the process of discontinuing tobacco smoking. Tobacco smoke contains nicotine, which is addictive and can cause dependence. As a result, nicotine withdrawal often makes the process of quitting difficult.

Health psychology Study of psychological and behavioral processes in health, illness, and healthcare

Health psychology is the study of psychological and behavioral processes in health, illness, and healthcare. It is concerned with understanding how psychological, behavioral, and cultural factors contribute to physical health and illness. Psychological factors can affect health directly. For example, chronically occurring environmental stressors affecting the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis, cumulatively, can harm health. Behavioral factors can also affect a person's health. For example, certain behaviors can, over time, harm or enhance health. Health psychologists take a biopsychosocial approach. In other words, health psychologists understand health to be the product not only of biological processes but also of psychological, behavioral, and social processes.

eHealth is a relatively recent healthcare practice supported by electronic processes and communication, dating back to at least 1999. Usage of the term varies as it covers not just "Internet medicine" as it was conceived during that time, but also "virtually everything related to computers and medicine". A study in 2005 found 51 unique definitions. Some argue that it is interchangeable with health informatics with a broad definition covering electronic/digital processes in health while others use it in the narrower sense of healthcare practice using the Internet. It can also include health applications and links on mobile phones, referred to as mHealth or m-Health.

Transtheoretical model

The transtheoretical model of behavior change is an integrative theory of therapy that assesses an individual's readiness to act on a new healthier behavior, and provides strategies, or processes of change to guide the individual. The model is composed of constructs such as: stages of change, processes of change, levels of change, self-efficacy, and decisional balance.

Motivational interviewing (MI) is a counseling approach developed in part by clinical psychologists William R. Miller and Stephen Rollnick. It is a directive, client-centered counseling style for eliciting behavior change by helping clients to explore and resolve ambivalence. Compared with non-directive counseling, it is more focused and goal-directed, and departs from traditional Rogerian client-centered therapy through this use of direction, in which therapists attempt to influence clients to consider making changes, rather than engaging in non-directive therapeutic exploration. The examination and resolution of ambivalence is a central purpose, and the counselor is intentionally directive in pursuing this goal. MI is most centrally defined not by technique but by its spirit as a facilitative style for interpersonal relationship.

Varenicline Nicotinic receptor agonist

Varenicline is a medication used for smoking cessation. Varenicline is also used for the treatment of dry eye disease.

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Treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is variable and uncertain, and the condition is primarily managed rather than cured.

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The mainstay of management of borderline personality disorder is various forms of psychotherapy with medications being found to be of little use.

The primary care behavioral health (PCBH) consultation model is a psychological approach to population-based clinical health care that is simultaneously co-located, collaborative, and integrated within the primary care clinic. The goal of PCBH is to improve and promote overall health within the general population. This approach is important because approximately half of all patients in primary care present with psychiatric comorbidities, and 60% of psychiatric illness is treated in primary care.

Gerhard Andersson Swedish psychologist (born 1966)

Gerhard Andersson is a Swedish psychologist, psychotherapist and Professor of clinical psychology at Linköping University. He was previously affiliated researcher at Karolinska Institutet. He was a co-recipient of the Nordic Medical Prize in 2014.


Occupational Therapy is used to manage the issues caused by seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Occupational therapists assist with the management of SAD through the incorporation of a variety of healthcare disciplines into therapeutic practice. Potential patients with SAD are assessed, treated and evaluated primarily using treatments such as drug therapies, light therapies, and psychological therapies. Therapists are often involved in designing an individualised treatment plan that most effectively meets the client's goals and needs around their responsiveness to a variety of treatments.

Relapse prevention (RP) is a cognitive-behavioral approach to relapse with the goal of identifying and preventing high-risk situations such as unhealthy substance use, obsessive-compulsive behavior, sexual offending, obesity, and depression. It is an important component in the treatment process for alcohol use disorder, or alcohol dependence.

Metacognitive therapy (MCT) is a psychotherapy focused on modifying metacognitive beliefs that perpetuate states of worry, rumination and attention fixation. It was created by Adrian Wells based on an information processing model by Wells and Gerald Matthews. It is supported by scientific evidence from a large number of studies.

Digital therapeutics, a subset of digital health, are evidence-based therapeutic interventions driven by high quality software programs to prevent, manage, or treat a medical disorder or disease. Digital therapeutic companies should publish trial results inclusive of clinically meaningful outcomes in peer-reviewed journals. The treatment relies on behavioral and lifestyle changes usually spurred by a collection of digital impetuses. Because of the digital nature of the methodology, data can be collected and analyzed as both a progress report and a preventative measure. Treatments are being developed for the prevention and management of a wide variety of diseases and conditions, including type II diabetes, congestive heart failure, obesity, Alzheimer's disease, dementia, asthma, substance abuse, ADHD, hypertension, anxiety, depression, and several others. Digital therapeutics often employ strategies rooted in cognitive behavioral therapy.

References

  1. ↑ Kraft, P., Drozd, F. & Olsen, E. (2009). "ePsychology: Designing theory-based health promotion interventions". Communications of the Association for Information Systems, 24, 399–426.
  2. ↑ Andersson, G. & Kaldo, V. (2004). "Internet-based cognitive-behavioral therapy for tinnitus". Journal of Clinical Psychology/In Session, 60, 171–178.
  3. ↑ Ross, S.E., Moore, L.A., Earnest, M.A., Wittevrongel, L. & Lin, C.T. (2004). "Providing a web-based online medical record with electronic communication capabilities to patients with congestive heart failure: Randomized trial". Journal of Medical Internet Research, 6: e12.
  4. ↑ Brendryen, H., Drozd, F. & Kraft, P. (2008). "A digital smoking cessation program delivered through internet and cell phone without nicotine replacement (Happy Ending): Randomized controlled trial". Journal of Medical Internet Research, 10: e51.
  5. 1 2 Barak, A., Hen, L., Boniel-Nissim, M. & Shapira, N. (2008). "A comprehensive review and a meta-analysis of the effectiveness of Internet-based psychotherapeutic interventions". Journal of Technology in Human Services, 26, 109–160.
  6. ↑ Portnoy, D.B., Lori, A.J., Sheldon, S., Johnson, B.T. & Carey, M.P. (2008). "Computer-delivered interventions for health promotion and behavioral risk reduction: A meta-analysis of 75 randomized controlled trials, 1988–2007". Preventive Medicine, 47, 3–16.
  7. 1 2 Webb, T.L., Joseph, J., Yardley, L. & Michie, S. (2010). "Using the Internet to promote health behavior change: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the impact of theoretical basis, use of behavior change techniques, and mode of delivery on efficacy". Journal of Medical Internet Research, 12(1): e4.
  8. ↑ Ajzen, I. (1991). "The theory of planned behaviour". Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 50, 179–211.
  9. ↑ Walters, S.T., Wright, J.A. & Shegog, R. (2006). "A review of computer and Internet-based interventions for smoking behavior". Addictive Behaviors, 31, 264–277.
  10. ↑ World Health Organization (2002). The world health report 2002: Reducing risks, promoting healthy life. Geneva, Switzerland.
  11. ↑ Miniwatts Marketing Group (2009). World Internet users and population stats: Internet world stats 30 September 2009. From: http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats.htm. Retrieved 17 November 2009.
  12. ↑ Griffiths, M. (2005). "Online therapy for addictive behaviours". CyberPsychology & Behaviour, 8, 555–561.
  13. ↑ Yglesias, Matthew (10 November 2009). "How nagging text messages can make you healthier and richer. - Slate Magazine". Slate.com. Retrieved 2011-12-14.
  14. ↑ Atkins, L. & Fallowfield, L. (2006). "Intentional and non-intentional non-adherence to medication amongst breast cancer patients". European Journal of Cancer, 42, 2271–2276.
  15. ↑ Stephenson, J. (1999). "AIDS researchers target poor adherence". Journal of the American Medical Association, 281, 1069.
  16. ↑ Senst, B.L., Achusim, L.E., Genest, R.P., Cosentino, L.A., Ford, C.C. et al. (2001). "Practical approach to determining costs and frequency of adverse drug events in a health care network". American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy, 58, 1126–1132.

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