- What level of symptom severity is the programme aimed at?
- Can the programme be used with medication?
- How will GPs know which patients are suitable for the programme?
- Who has clinical responsibility for the programme?
- Does a trained CBT specialist need to be present?
- How can the programme be as warm and friendly as having a chat with a Counsellor?
- Is Ultrasis’ Beating the Blues real cognitive-behaviour therapy (CBT)?
- We have Counsellors and Clinical Psychologists at our practice - how does your programme
compare with them? Do we need your programme?
- What information is printed out?
- Is the programme suitable for patients who have no previous computer experience?
- How confidential is the data the patient is typing into the computer?
- I’m a health professional - How can I use Beating The Blues?
- I suffer from anxiety and/or depression - How can I access Beating The Blues?
- What do I need to implement Beating the Blues
1. What level of symptom severity is the programme aimed at?
The programme is designed for mild to moderate anxiety and depression. The randomised
controlled trial showed that the programme was also effective for severe depression.
2. Can the programme be used with medication?
Beating the Blues can be used in conjunction with medication. The randomised controlled
trial showed that the effect of Beating the Blues was the same for people on medication as for
people who were not taking medication.
3. How will GPs know which patients are suitable for the programme?
The NICE Guidelines for Depression and the 'Enhanced Services Specification for Depression under the new
GP Contract' ( Appendix 10) describe simple questionnaires for the assessing the severity of
depression. The GHQ-12 has also been used in open trials of the programme in routine care. A full
psychological assessment is not required.
In addition patients with active suicidal ideas, psychosis or organic mental disorder,
alcohol and/or drug dependence or who are unable to attend for 8 sessions or who are unable
to read or write English should not be assigned to the programme
4. Who has clinical responsibility for the programme?
The patient’s GP/therapist or other health professional maintains
overall responsibility for the patient.
5. Does a trained CBT specialist have to be present?
The programme was designed so that it can be implemented by a trained receptionist or practice nurse.
They simply help the patient to log on at the beginning of the session, book appointments, check
the patients weekly progress report for suicidal ideation and refer to the clinician in charge
if necessary. No more than 5mins at the beginning of a session and 5 mins at the end is required.
6. How can the programme be as warm and friendly as having a chat with a Counsellor?
Interacting with a computer is obviously different to talking to a person. Past experience with Beating
the Blues has shown that the majority of patients find it easy to interact with the computer
and find it engaging and useful. During the development of Ultrasis' Beating the Blues,
experts in multi-media and adult education were engaged as part of the team to ensure clarity of
presentation. A lot of effort was put into making the voice-overs sound warm and empathic.
Video case studies are included so that the user is able to listen to other peoples' problems
and learn from their experiences with CBT.
Ultrasis Beating the Blues has several advantages over conventional
talking therapy, including the option to go back and repeat sections, and learning from others via
the case studies. The programme provides standard best practice CBT independent of
counsellor training.
7. Is Ultrasis’ Beating the Blues real cognitive-behaviour therapy (CBT)?
The cognitive and behavioral techniques used in Ultrasis' Beating the Blues are based on those used in
conventional CBT. The programme was designed and proven by experts in cognitive behavioural
therapy at the Institute of Psychiatry, London.
8. We have Counsellors and Clinical Psychologists at our practice - how does your programme
compare with them? Do we need your programme?
One of
the main problems in providing
mental health services in practice is the length of the waiting list to see Counsellors and Clinical Psychologists.
Beating the Blues has been shown to reduce these waiting lists by treating some or all of these
patients. Beating the Blues can also be used in conjunction with, or as an adjunct to,
counselling and psychotherapy in specialist CBT centres - for example to teach the basic
techniques of CBT. This allows the counsellor or psychotherapist more time to concentrate on
more specific issues for patients who really need the face to face therapy
9. What information is printed out?
A summary of the session and all the homework sheets are automatically printed out during the session.
A copy of the patient's progress report is automatically printed out at the end of each session. This
progress report documents the patient's self-reported increase or decrease in anxiety and depression week by week, and the severity of their problems. It also documents suicidal thoughts. The weekly progress report should also be seen by the doctor responsible for the patient. A
Patient Summary is also available which should be printed out and filed by the practice once a patient has completed Beating the Blues. This summarises the patient's feedback on Beating the Blues, their CORE-OM scores and their problem distress ratings across the programme.
10. Is the programme suitable for patients who have no previous computer experience?
Ultrasis Beating the Blues has been used successfully by a large number
of patients who had no previous computing experience. Tell the patient
to take their time and after the first few sessions they will find themselves
feeling more confident about using the computer. Make sure that you have
gone through the section in the manual on novice computer users with the
patient.
11. How confidential is the data the patient is typing into the computer?
All data entered into the programme is password protected and stored in an encrypted format.
12. I’m a health professional - How can I use Beating The Blues?
Beating the Blues is sold on an unlimited patient use annual licence
for use within the routine care setting. The licence cost includes the
installation of Beating the Blues onto one personal computer or lap-top
machine, a training session and training manual for the programme, digital
and VHS copies of the introductory video module of the programme, unlimited
use of the 8 interactive computer therapy sessions and all associated
workbooks and progress reports. For more information about purchasing
a licence to use Beating the Blues please contact Ultrasis 0207 566 3900
13. I suffer from anxiety and/or depression - How can I access Beating The Blues?
Beating the Blues is available in more than 100 primary care and mental
health services in the United Kingdom. Beating the Blues is accessed in
the routine care setting, as recommended by your GP or other health professional.
You should ask your GP if Beating the Blues is the right programme for you.
14. What do I need to implement Beating the Blues?
You need a computer and printer and a private room which allows the patient to use the programme without distraction. You can put more than one computer in the room and the patients can use head sets to avoid disturbing each other.
The computer does not have to be dedicated to Beating the Blues. All other applications need to be shut down, however, when Beating the Blues is being used.
You will also need someone, for instance a receptionist or practice nurse, trained in the administrative functions of the programme, to help the patient log-in and to ensure they have all the printouts at the end of each session. No more than 10 minutes ( 5 mins at the start and 5mins at the end) is required.
|
