Deploying eHealth: a new approach to face depression in the basque country

• Published in: International journal of integrated care 2017-10, Vol.17 (5), p.116
• Main Authors: Txarramendieta Suarez, Jon, Fullaondo Zabala, Ane, De Manuel Keenoy, Esteban, Gabilondo Cuellar, Andrea, González Pinto, Ana, García Alocén, Adriana, Retolaza Berasategui, Ander, Ponte Velón, Joaquín
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cognitive behavioral therapy; Mental depression; Mental health; Patients; Professionals
• ISSN: 1568-4156; 1568-4156
• DOI: 10.5334/ijic.3421

Introduction/context: Depression is one of the most frequent mental health diseases worldwide, with approximately 350 million of individuals affected. Antidepressants are still the mainstay of treatment for depression in healthcare settings. In the Basque Country, about 400.000 people suffer from depression; 10% of them with mild or moderate symptoms. cCBT has proven to be effective to fight depression, enabling the patient to change destructive patterns. This type of cCBT can be self-administrated at any time and place; this is why it contributes to improve accessibility to treatment. Also, it enables the delivery of care at the natural environment, minimizing the negative effect of mental health stigma, and contributing to the acceptance of the one's own condition.Description/aim: The Basque Country, within the European project Mastermind, has deployed a Computerized Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (cCBT) service. The Mastermind project started in March 2014 and finishes in Febrary 2017. During the implementation phase, barriers and facilitators related to both clinical and organizational areas have been identified and analyzed. The cCBT platform enables a two-way patient-professional communication, a close patient´s follow-up, while providing the patient with tools to manage its own condition and prevent future episodes.Methods: The practice being implemented in the Basque Country comprises three main work areas:1. Develop a cCBT platform, called “Supera tu depresión” together with other 3 Spanish partners of the project, taking into account the needs for patient-professional interaction and fluid communication, integration within information systems and therapeutic content that nurtures the platform. The piloting in the Basque Country started in January 2016 and finishes in Febrary 2017, due to the finalisation of the project.2. Deploy a protocol for comprehensive care that includes key professionals (primary care, mental health and emergency) adapted to the context of the Basque Country.3. Put into practice an integrated care intervention targeting individuals over 18 years old, diagnosed of low or mid depression.4. Pre-post assessment of quantitative and qualitative aspects (by focus groups to clinicians and semi structured interviews to managers) according to the MAST model.Results/discussion/lessons learned: The results are to be measured according to the MAST model in terms of health problems, application features, safety, clinical effectiveness, pat