We’ve been talking about VR for voices for more than a decade. Are the results finally catching up with the hype? A new multi-site RCT from Denmark tests a refined, immersive version of AVATAR therapy for people with schizophrenia who continue to hear distressing voices despite medication.
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Single-session interventions represent a low-cost, one-off, scalable intervention that may help to bridge the treatment gap for mental health problems. But are they actually effective, and how do they compare to typical, multi-session interventions? This umbrella review indicates that they are an important tool to have in our toolbox of treatment options.
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This meta-analysis of digital peer support interventions reports positive effects, but major gaps remain. Without a clear definition of what ‘digital peer support’ even means, are we at risk of losing the radical heart of this work?
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Can a nurse-led, digital mental health intervention for common mental disorders reduce sick leave and save money? This RCT from Sweden looked at cost, care, and what matters to patients.
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With NHS services under strain, digital therapies are attracting more attention. This new study tested a generative AI chatbot in a national RCT and found significant clinical improvements. But are we ready for AI to join the therapy team?
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Rena Gatzounis blogs about a systematic review and meta-analysis investigating the effectiveness of immersive virtual reality treatments for mental health disorders.
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Francesca Zecchinato summarises a recent trial investigating the effectiveness of an unguided modular online intervention for anxious parents in preventing anxiety in their offspring.
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Emma Sullivan summarises a cross-sectional observational study investigating associations between school smartphone policies and mental wellbeing in young people.
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Alyson Dodd reports on a year long study of digital mood monitoring in people with bipolar disorder, which suggests that sleep and activity changes precede hypomanic episodes by three days. This data could be a useful clinical tool, but more research is needed.
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Nina Higson-Sweeney summarises a qualitative study exploring the #camhs hashtag on TikTok and how young people experience child and adolescent mental health services.
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