An evaluation of 'Reach Out Central': An online gaming program for supporting the mental health of young people
- Authors: Shandley, Kerrie , Austin, David , Klein, Britt , Kyrios, Michael
- Date: 2010
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Health Education Research Vol. 25, no. 4 (2010), p. 563-574
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- Description: The objective of this study was to conduct an evaluation of Reach Out Central (ROC), an online gaming program designed to support the mental health of people aged 16-25. The evaluation sought to determine the benefit of playing ROC on alcohol use, use of coping strategies, psychological distress, resilience and satisfaction with life. Changes in mental health literacy, mental health stigma and willingness to seek help and program satisfaction were also investigated. A single group (N=266) quasi-experimental repeated measures (pre-, post-program, 2-month follow-up) design was employed. The results demonstrated positive improvements across all outcome measures for females; however, a non-significant worsening effect was observed for males on seeking support, avoidance and resilience. Improvements for both genders were observed on mental health literacy and help-seeking. However, literacy levels and help-seeking were significantly higher, and stigma significantly lower for females. Program satisfaction ratings were high irrespective of gender. Although some inconsistencies between genders were noted, ROC appears to enhance protective factors for the prevention or early intervention of mental health disorders. The results of this study need to be viewed with its limitations in mind, specifically, the use of an open trial methodology and the small number of male participants. © The Author 2009. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.
Internet-based treatment for panic disorder: Does frequency of therapist contact make a difference?
- Authors: Klein, Britt , Austin, David , Pier, Ciaran , Kiropoulos, Litza , Shandley, Kerrie , Mitchell, Joanna , Gilson, Kathryn , Ciechomski, Lisa
- Date: 2009
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Vol. 38, no. 2 (2009), p. 100-113
- Full Text: false
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- Description: Internet-based interventions with therapist support have proven effective for treating a range of mental health conditions. This study examined whether frequency of therapist contact affected treatment outcomes. Fifty-seven people with panic disorder (including 32 with agoraphobia) were randomly allocated to an 8-week Internet-based cognitive behavioural treatment intervention (Panic Online) with either frequent (three e-mails per week) or infrequent (one e-mail per week) support from a psychologist. Posttreatment, intention-to-treat analyses revealed that both treatments were effective at improving panic disorder and agoraphobia severity ratings, panic-related cognitions, negative affect, and psychological and physical quality of life domains, with no differences between conditions. High end-state functioning was achieved by 28.6% of the frequent and infrequent participants, respectively. Therapist alliance, treatment credibility, and satisfaction also did not differ between groups, despite significantly greater therapist time invested in the frequent contact condition. The results provide evidence that the effectiveness of Internet-based mental health interventions may be independent of the frequency of therapist support and may, therefore, be more cost-effective than previously reported. © 2009 Taylor & Francis.