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November 24, 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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
(Photo of Dr. Bedrosian available on request.)
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We recommend that you use our programs
in conjunction with appropriate treatment, not as a substitute for
it.
Please read our Terms
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