Hand-held therapy

Psychotherapy is not often associated with the latest in hand-held computer technology but a University of Queensland (UQ) researcher is hoping to change that.

Associate Professor Justin Kenardy, from UQ’s School of Psychology, has just completed an international study into the use of hand-held personal computers (palm PCS) to help treat panic disorder and agoraphobia.

Dr Kenardy led a team of researchers from the Australia and the UK and recruited more than 200 patients in Australia and in Scotland in what is believed to be the first trial of its kind.

“Where typical cognitive-behavioural therapy involves seeing a patient once a week, with a palm PC we can give them homework and it can aid their therapy in between sessions,” Dr Kenardy said.

Dr Kenardy said trials showed patients responded more quickly to the therapy if they used a palm PC.

“What the research is saying is that the computers are a useful tool for reducing the amount of suffering a patients can have,” he said.

“It has a faster effect at almost half the cost when compared to usual cognitive-behavioural therapy.

“It makes a big difference in terms of patients engaging in their homework which ultimately speeds their recovery.”

He said palm PCs could also be used in treating problems such as depression and pain.

Dr Kenardy said while mental health professionals were sometimes slow in taking up new technology in therapy, he hoped research such as his would help provide impetus for change.

Media: For more information contact Dr Justin Kenardy (telephone 07 3365 6398, email kenardy@psy.uq.edu.au) or Andrew Dunne at UQ Communications (telephone 07 3365 2802).