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Welcome to the International Society for Mental Health Online!
We are a multi-disciplinary association of students, teachers, researchers, clinical practitioners, online mental health professionals, and other people interested in the field of online mental health who meet online to discuss current issues and collaborate on projects to further the field of online mental health. We discuss diverse subjects including current research and publications; online counseling and psychotherapy; international information and resources; and education, training and supervision. Some of our projects include writing the first Suggested Principles for the Provision of Online Mental Health Services; developing the first online Clinical Case Study Group; granting annual awards for student research; and currently we are planning new educational and research initiatives.
ISMHO 2007-2008 Research Award Winner
The International Society for Mental Health Online is pleased to announce the granting of this year's award for distinguished student research in the area of online mental health.
Our winning study for 2007-2008 comes from Viola Spek, of the Netherlands, who conducted this research project as part of her doctoral study in psychology.
The study is entitled Internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy for subthreshold depression in people over 50 years old: a randomized controlled clinical trial.
The findings and presentation underscore the value - and efficacy - of short-term online, self-administered cognitive-behavioral regimens. Outcomes compared favorably with face-to-face CBT, with both treatment conditions proving to be more efficacious than a control group condition. The dependent measures (Beck scales, etc.) yielded strong evidence of there being a positive effect using this online protocol, for this population of Subjects.
The study focused on one particular clinical entity (sub-threshold depression) and the Subjects were drawn from a specific population: the entire population of a town who were over 50, computer/Internet-comfortable, and willing to participate. The implications are enormous, inviting replication as well as further research into other types of presenting problems, populations and treatment modalities -- including online self-help as well as clinician-guided CBT protocols.
This award recognizes the effort which went into a lengthy process of research, including extensive literature review, description of rationale, methodology and results, along with a well-presented discussion which stimulates dialogue and provides opportunities and inspiration for further research. This was seen by the committee as an impressive piece of work.
The ISMHO Research Committee acknowledges the submission of several additional studies which hold promise for future research and/or online application. In the case of those studies which were incomplete or not yet oriented specifically towards Internet application, we encourage further development of ideas and efforts in future research endeavors and hope we see submissions in future awards competitions which are as relevant and as well-executed as this study. For a reprint of this article, please contact Viola Spel at V.R.M.Spek@uvt.nl
Congratulations to Viola Spek!
- ISMHO Research Committee/Awards Committee 2007-8, Michael Fenichel, Ph.D., Chair
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ISMHO offers you the opportunity to be in the forefront of exciting new developments in the field of online mental health. You can participate in and have access to our:
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Members' Directory
Vote for our Board of Directors, or run for election
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