November 19, 2003 Northborough, MA-- After almost eight years in development, the MySelfHelp.com Defeating Depression program is now available to the public. Defeating Depression – the latest product in MySelfHelp.com’s family of interactive, online self-help programs – joins the Stop Binge Eating program, which was introduced in July.
Depression is a complex disorder, one that is influenced by numerous factors and manifests itself in very different ways in different individuals. The Defeating Depression program provides information, tools, and exercises that address the wide range of symptoms and issues that are associated with depression. The exercises in the program enable subscribers to overcome misconceptions about depression, identify and change distorted thoughts and beliefs; interrupt negative cycles of thinking and behavior, utilize self-monitoring and behavioral exercises, work on guilt and shame issues, improve self esteem, learn a variety of self-soothing techniques; create and implement a recovery plan; and prevent a relapse. The program is updated on a daily basis to provide subscribers with the latest information, new and enhanced products, and user feedback.
“Our programs are designed to improve the effectiveness of clinical therapy by providing accurate, supporting medical information, exercises, and learning activities,” said Richard Bedrosian, Ph.D., president and founder of MySelfHelp.com. “These programs establish a sense of community among subscribers while ensuring privacy and confidentiality by allowing subscribers to remain anonymous.”
Research Shows Computer-based Programs Enhance Treatment
and Speed Recovery for Depression and Related Illnesses
The prevalence of managed care and major cost-cutting measures adopted by insurance companies pose tremendous challenges to healthcare professionals trying to provide effective, ongoing treatment for patients suffering from mental illness. With limited coverage for therapy sessions and outpatient and inpatient treatment, however, patients do not always receive the level or continuum of care required to effectively treat these disorders.
More and more evidence is accumulating that the use of self-help tools, and particularly computer-assisted programs, can help to improve the outcome of treatments for mental health problems. The use of interactive self-help programs positively reinforces treatment goals by providing continuous support in between sessions – thus hastening recovery.
Interactive programs can offer more powerful learning experiences than self-help books, and they can produce attitude change that in turn can trigger improved treatment outcomes. MySelfHelp.com has conducted research which examines the impact of interactive self-help programs. A controlled study performed in 2001 by F. Antonio Pradas, Ph.D., concluded that self-help computer-based programs were preferred over self-help books. The interactivity and ability to customize programs were better received and rated as more effective by participants in the study.
These types of findings prompted Richard Bedrosian, Ph.D., to develop online Internet-based programs for people suffering from depression, eating disorders, and related illnesses. Bedrosian spent nearly eight years researching and developing these programs with the help of a network of mental health professionals. In addition to maintaining his clinical practice and teaching at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, Dr. Bedrosian founded MySelfHelp.com, the first company to develop online, interactive, self-help programs for people suffering from depression, eating disorders, and related illnesses. The programs are funded and supported by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). To date, MySelfHelp.com has received over $1.8 million in research grants and contracts from NIMH. Most recently, the company also received a grant from the National Institute on Aging to develop a self-help program for bereavement.
In addition to the studies already completed, MySelfHelp.com is in the midst of conducting an outcome study which examines whether use of the Defeating Depression enhances outcomes for people who are receiving “treatment as usual” for depression. A similar study will be done with the Spanish-language version of the depression program, currently under development.
Other Online Programs on the Horizon
In addition to the Defeating Depression and Stop Binge Eating programs, MySelfHelp.com has a number of other programs in development. These include Hope for HIV and Depression, Como Derrotar a la Depresión (Latino Depression Program), Beating Bulimia, Grief: Moving Ahead, Overcoming Guilt and Shame Issues, and Battling Substance Abuse. MySelfHelp.com is also developing a program for Consumers, under the direction of Consumerism Expert Susan Wornick of ABC, Channel 5. Healthcare professionals and individuals who would like to be notified when new programs are available can go to the MySelfHelp.com website and click on the New Product Releases button.
Free Self-Help Newsletter
MySelfHelp.com also offers a free online self-help newsletter which includes inspirational stories, self-help tips, useful information, and advice. Anyone interested in subscribing can go to MySelfHelp.com and sign up, or send an email to info@MySelfHelp.com and request a newsletter. As a public service, the company also provides up-to-date research articles on their public website, along with links to other mental health-related sites.
About MySelfHelp.com
As the world’s premier site for online self-help resources, MySelfHelp.com consists of a growing family of highly interactive, easy-to-use programs featuring user-customizable exercises, tools, and resources designed to speed recovery and promote well being.
MySelfHelp.com is funded and supported by the National Institute of Mental Health and staffed by a team of highly experienced and reputable health care professionals and other experts who are devoted to helping people improve the quality of their lives.
For information about comparing antidepressants, visit
http://yourdepressioninfo.com/antidepressantcomparison/
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