CureTogether is a community based health site, where members share their health concerns, symptoms and treatments. It has grown very quickly over the last couple of years, and the “crowd-sourcing” of health data is really starting to bear fruit. Kudos to Cure Together!

In compiling the chart, anonymous information was collected from 944 people in their Depression community.

Perhaps not surprisingly, exercise is rated as both the most popular and effective treatment. For us depressed folk, it is also one of the hardest to start and continue with. Especially when we need it most. Maintaining good sleep habits was also found to be popular and effective. Again one of the first things to depart with the arrival of depression.

I think it’s odd that people consider caffeine to be a treatment, even if a less helpful one. Odd, because in large quantities caffeine acts as a depressant; it releases stress hormones like adrenalin. I’m acutely aware of this. My addiction to strong, freshly roasted Australian coffee is incompatible with bipolar, at both ends of the spectrum.

Cure Together also released an ebook a week ago, called “The CureTogether Guide to Depression” and subtitled “How to Find a Treatment That Works: Research Results and Practical Advice”. I haven’t purchased it yet, but for $10 it sounds like a bargain. This is exactly this kind of patient centered research that has real potential for improving the body of knowledge, influencing the direction of clinical research, and ultimately improving health outcomes. (To be clear, I don’t have a relationship with Cure Together and no financial interest in promoting this book).

Another similar but much older resource can be found at the Australian National University’s Blue Pages site. Its survey of treatments is based on clinical, not patient-generated research, but the results dovetail nicely.

On a related note, many people who use our desktop and online applications have authorized the anonymous use of their data for scientific research. The proportion opting in has been exceptional – somewhere between 40% and 50%.

Later this year we will have sufficient data to start analyzing correlations between the items being tracked. The results will be freely available. It is my fervent belief that the Optimism community will also make a helpful contribution to the body of knowledge on mental health.

The research will be done in collaboration with a well regarded U.S. university, in addition to a more formal study on how the apps can change a person’s relationship with their physician and the quality of their treatment.

Watch this space! :)

“Wikipedia articles appear in the top 10 results for more than 70 per cent of medical queries in four different search engines…

…Even more disconcerting is that 50 percent of doctors turn to the user-generated Wikipedia for health info.”

Read the full article at New Scientist.

I wrote a post 18 months ago about using search engines, more specifically Google, to search for health information. Nothing much has changed. The distinction between content and advertising is blurred, and it’s all too easy to end up on a dodgy website.

So who can you trust for reliable information?

A good place to start is to look for the HONcode icon at the bottom of a web page. You will find it in the footer of pages on reputable sites – see for example Psych Central, the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance and the Black Dog Institute. The icon indicates that the site has gone through a certification process for the reliability and credibility of its information. It has become the industry standard for reputable health sites.

The first time I was prescribed an antidepressant, my GP turned to his cupboard and said “I’ve got some samples here. I haven’t tried this one for a while. Let’s give it a go.” Chalk that one up for the drug rep.

His diagnosis was wrong as well.

It’s a contentious issue. Should physicians without psychiatric training be dispensing psychotropic drugs?

An article by Frontier Psychiatrist discusses this problem, plus the ubiquity of antidepressants today, our collective loss of resilience and the increased role of medicine as the panacea. Interesting and challenging.

Read more of the Frontier Psychiatrist article.

by On Simplicity

“…Once upon a time, there were things called hobbies. They were meant to be fun pastimes, pleasant ways to spend leisure time. People would (please believe me when I say this) complete activities purely for pleasure. Sometimes, they wouldn’t even finish these hobby projects!…”

…click to read more

Mental Health Best of the Web

This is a revision of a post that I wrote a couple of years ago. MoodGYM is worth a revisit!

What is it?
MoodGYM was one of the first interactive websites to help with treating depression. It is based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Interpersonal Therapy, which can be used successfully in preventing and treating depression and anxiety. It is for helping a person identify whether they are having mental health problems, giving them the knowledge and strategies for overcoming these problems, and develop good coping skills for the future.

How Does It Work?
MoodGYM consists of interactive modules which are delivered in a specific order. The modules are: feelings, thoughts, unwarping, de-stressing, and relationships. At the end of each module you can apply the material to your own circumstances through a series of activities.

As you move through the program, you are presented with all kinds of information, animated demonstrations, quizzes and “homework” exercises. Your answers to the exercises are recorded in your own personal MoodGym Workbook, which keeps track of your progress. At the end there is the opportunity for you to view this progress and your results.

Who Is It For?
Anyone can use it, although it is likely to appeal most to a young audience. It is especially good for those who are unwilling or unable to seek help (some 60% to 70% of people with depression). It is geared to those with mild to moderate depression. According to the site it is best for people who want to manage problems that are troubling but not incapacitating. It is also helpful as a preventative tool. It is not meant as an alternative to traditional medical treatment or medicines.

What Does It Cost?
Nothing. Free as in free. Not even ad supported.

My Opinion?
MoodGYM is an easy entry point for someone wanting a quick picture of their mental health, or to take a first, difficult step towards treatment. It would also serve well for someone who wants to be proactive and overcome mental health problems before they really take root.

I have used MoodGYM on and off for a few years now. If you have a username you can return whenever you like, and continue where you left off. It is completely anonymous. I find it pitched at a younger audience, but I’ve still enjoyed some benefits from the program. It most cases it wouldn’t be suitable as a standalone treatment without professional input, but it would work well as an integrated treatment option.

Visit MoodGYM