The Professional Edition contains multi-user capacities, and other special features that provide a full system for computer-assisted cognitive therapy. Research on the Good Days Ahead program has demonstrated excellent acceptance by users and improved efficiency of cognitive therapy for depression.
The program can be used in the clinician's office or the patient's home computer. The Professional Edition is designed to: (1) help clinicians help their patients, (2) augment cognitive therapy or other traditional therapies, (3) provide exposure to cognitive therapy methods if this treatment is not available, and (4) enhance practice revenues.
To learn more about using the Professional Edition click on the following topics:
· What is Computer-Assisted Cognitive Therapy?
· How Can the program Help Clinicians?
· Program Synopsis
· Confidentiality
· Training Applications
· Cost
info@mindstreet.com
Note: The material contained in this portion of the website is intended for doctors and therapists who are interested in learning more about using Good Days Ahead as a tool in clinical practice.
What
is Computer-Assisted Cognitive Therapy?
The
Professional Edition of Good Days
Ahead has been specifically designed for use in computer-assisted
cognitive therapy. In this form of treatment, the computer program is used
as an adjunct to the work of the clinician. It is not intended to replace
any of the essential human elements of the therapy process. But, it
provides a rapid method of educating patients in the basics of the
cognitive therapy approach, promotes use of cognitive therapy self-help,
monitors progress, and gives the therapist feedback on the patient’s
experiences in using the program.
In a
randomized, controlled research study, it was found that computer-assisted
cognitive therapy and standard cognitive therapy were equally effective in
the treatment of major depression, even though time with the therapist was
reduced by about one half in computer-assisted therapy. No medications
were utilized in this study. The results of this trial were presented at
the 2000 Annual Meeting of the American Psychiatric Association. Other
research has shown very high satisfaction ratings from people who use the
software.
Good Days Ahead is the DVD-ROM
version of software (Cognitive Therapy: A Multimedia Learning program)
that has been used successfully in North America and Europe since 1995 in
a wide variety of clinical and research settings. The DVD-ROM format has
allowed for a significant upgrade in the graphics and interactivity of the
software.
The Good Days Ahead
program can
be used in many ways to augment the treatment of depression and anxiety.
Although the program content is directed primarily at depression, it also
teaches methods such as modifying automatic thoughts and using graded task
assignments that can be helpful for patients with anxiety disorders.
In clinical practice, most clinicians use the program to increase the
efficiency of treatment or to speed the patient’s acquisition of
knowledge and skills in using the methods of cognitive therapy. Many of
the “routine” procedures of cognitive therapy such as explaining the
basic principles of the treatment model, identifying automatic thoughts or
other maladaptive cognitions, teaching patients how to do thought
recording, or implementing standard behavioral techniques for depression
can be done with the computer program. This frees the clinician for
spending more time on the creative or customized elements of therapy.
How the program Can Help Clinicians
Here
is a short list of some of the ways in which Good
Days Ahead has been used to assist clinicians in practice:
·
Reduce
the total time required to treat each patient, thus allowing the therapist
to treat more patients.
·
Improve
payment for therapy
·
Speed
the process of therapy
·
Combine
with medication and brief therapy in a highly efficient treatment package
·
Provide
psychoeducation
·
Prepare
patients to start group or family cognitive therapy
· Provide
cognitive therapy in settings where there is a shortage of trained
therapists
· Monitor
progress of therapy
Program Synopsis
The learning environment includes a series of engaging videos that show a
person using cognitive therapy methods to fight depression. Users perform
a number of interactive exercises, based on the videos, that teach them
cognitive therapy skills. Then they can use these self-help exercises to
work on making changes in their own lives. Feedback is given throughout to
enhance learning and encourage users to put cognitive therapy methods into
action.
A “Workbook” is included with the program that stores all of the
self-help exercises in which users enter information from their own lives.
Users can go back to the Workbook at any time to review their earlier work
or to get additional practice in using the self-help exercises. Every time
a patient uses the program, suggestions are made for “homework” to be
done in the Workbook.
If users do not want to type in any of their own information, or have no
skills in using a keyboard, they can still benefit from using the program.
All of the video based exercises can be done by making selections with a
mouse. Research with this program has shown that it requires reading
skills at the ninth grade level, but no previous computer experience is
required. The entire Workbook can be printed out so that users who prefer
writing out their self-help exercises by hand can do so.
The total amount of time required to go through
all the lessons in Good Days Ahead
program usually ranges from five to eight hours. It is usually
recommended that users spend about 30-60 minutes during each session on
the computer.
The software can be used in the clinician’s office or by using the
Self-Help Edition in the home setting.
Here is a brief description of the content of each module of the program:
Introduction
In
this brief initial section, users: (1)
become familiar with the learning environment; and (2)
answer questions that provide baseline sociodemographic and clinical data.
By the end of the Introduction, patients should be able to operate the
learning system on their own.
Changing
Automatic Thoughts
The
main objective of this segment is to help patients learn about the
interplay between dysfunctional thoughts, emotions, and behavior. The main
character, Joan, is seen in her kitchen visiting with her best friend,
Karen. It's immediately apparent that Joan is depressed and that she's
having negatively distorted thoughts. Initially, Joan's negative thinking
leads to a maladaptive response to her friend's offer of help. But, the
scene is played out to a much more satisfying conclusion after Joan is
able to change her thinking style.
The Basic Principles section is relatively short and requires only modest
effort from the majority of patients. However, the message of the lesson
is a powerful one, and an understanding of this material provides an
essential platform for successful completion of the remainder of the
program. This early segment relies very heavily on video to capture
attention and to stimulate full engagement in the learning process.
Users learn about automatic thoughts and start to generate their own
“Personal List of Automatic Thoughts.” They also do self-help
exercises such as a Two Column Thought Record. They are introduced to
“homework assignments” and the Workbook section of the program. Each
time they use the program, suggestions are made for helpful homework
exercises that can be done in the Workbook.
Two
vignettes from Joan's life are used to teach patients how to identify and
modify automatic thoughts. In the first scene, Joan is struggling with a
series of dysfunctional automatic thoughts about her work situation. The
second video clip shows Joan at home in the middle of an argument with her
husband, Gary.
These vignettes are more emotionally charged than the video material seen
earlier in the program, and thus are more likely to activate the patient's
own cognitions and affect.
During this segment of the program, patients gain experience in using
cognitive therapy techniques such as thought monitoring, identifying
cognitive errors, "examining the evidence," and generating
alternative thoughts. The centerpiece of the lesson is a series of
exercises that help patients to complete thought records (Thought Change
Records). After completing this section of the program, users are
encouraged to do homework assignments that will give them further practice
in modifying their own automatic thoughts.
This lesson is more complex and time consuming than earlier segments of
the program. Most patients spend about one to two hours working on the
Changing Automatic Thoughts segment, in addition to time they may spend on
homework assignments in the Workbook. It may be useful to repeat portions
of the lesson until patients become proficient at modifying automatic
thoughts.
Taking
Action
Behavioral
interventions are emphasized in this portion of the learning program.
Again, video illustrations are used to demonstrate core principles and to
give patients opportunities to see the effects of employing cognitive
therapy techniques. In the first scene, Joan uses an Activity Schedule to
reverse a pattern of decreased interest and helplessness. Then she is
shown with her husband in her home office as she begins to tackle an
"overwhelming" task using the "step-by-step approach."
The second video helps patients practice using a standard behavioral
procedure - the graded task assignment.
This portion of the learning program is not as emotionally charged as
other segments, but most patients are able to identify with the common
behavioral dilemmas that Joan must face (for example: decreased interest
in activities, inertia, and procrastination). It usually takes an hour or
more to complete this section.
Changing
Schemas
Because
schemas are thought to be the underlying templates (attitudes, rules, or
assumptions) that drive more superficial cognitions, they may not be
readily apparent to the patient. Thus, considerable effort may be required
in cognitive therapy to uncover these structures. In this segment of the
program, patients are taught several ways of identifying schemas
including: (1)
examining patterns of automatic thoughts; (2)
reviewing past experiences; (3)
reading about the experiences of others; and (4)
using a schema check list.
Several
useful procedures for changing schemas (examining the evidence, listing
advantages and disadvantages, and generating alternatives) are covered in
this section.
Changing
Schemas is somewhat more demanding than earlier segments because users are
asked to recognize underlying dysfunctional attitudes and to practice
methods of reversing these firmly held cognitions. The learning program
strongly advises patients to work on schemas in ongoing psychotherapy.
Although the computer program may help patients become more aware of the
effect of schemas, fundamental change may require sustained therapeutic
efforts.
Confidentiality
The
Good Days Ahead software is
designed to provide confidentiality for users. Each person chooses their
own private password to use the system. Mindstreet does not collect, store, or analyze
any personal data entered in the Good Days Ahead program.
Training
Applications
Although
the Professional Edition of Good
Days Ahead is designed primarily for use in clinical practice, it also
can be utilized to train students and health care professionals in
cognitive therapy. The program covers the basic features of
cognitive therapy, and offers a "hands on" experience in using
common treatment procedures. Trainees in medicine, psychiatry, psychology,
nursing, and social work can rapidly acquire a working knowledge of
cognitive therapy by using the computer program.
Cost
The Professional Edition is sold as a basic license with a defined number of uses. The price per use is based on the number of users purchased. Additional uses can be added to a basic license at any time by contacting Mindstreet. Each package includes a basic license, Professional Edition software, a specific number of uses, and a Clinician Guide. Please contact Mindstreet for information on utilization options and pricing to satisfy your specific requirements. Call (502-893-9271) or e-mail (info@mindstreet.com).