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Valentine L, McEnery C, Bell I, O'Sullivan S, Pryor I, Gleeson J, Bendall S, Alvarez-Jimenez M. Blended Digital and Face-to-Face Care for First-Episode Psychosis Treatment in Young People: Qualitative Study. JMIR Ment Health 2020; 7:e18990. [PMID: 32720904 PMCID: PMC7420518 DOI: 10.2196/18990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Revised: 05/07/2020] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A small number of studies have found that digital mental health interventions can be feasible and acceptable for young people experiencing first-episode psychosis; however, little research has examined how they might be blended with face-to-face approaches in order to enhance care. Blended treatment refers to the integration of digital and face-to-face mental health care. It has the potential to capitalize on the evidence-based features of both individual modalities, while also exceeding the sum of its parts. This integration could bridge the online-offline treatment divide and better reflect the interconnected, and often complementary, ways young people navigate their everyday digital and physical lives. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to gain young people's perspectives on the design and implementation of a blended model of care in first-episode psychosis treatment. METHODS This qualitative study was underpinned by an end-user development framework and was based on semistructured interviews with 10 participants aged 19 to 28 (mean 23.4, SD 2.62). A thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. RESULTS Three superordinate themes emerged relating to young people's perspectives on the design and implementation of a blended model of care in first-episode psychosis treatment: (1) blended features, (2) cautions, and (3) therapeutic alliance. CONCLUSIONS We found that young people were very enthusiastic about the prospect of blended models of mental health care, in so far as it was used to enhance their experience of traditional face-to-face treatment but not to replace it overall. Aspects of blended treatment that could enhance clinical care were readily identified by young people as increasing accessibility, continuity, and consolidation; accessing posttherapy support; strengthening the relationship between young person and clinician; and tracking personal data that could be used to better inform clinical decision making. Future research is needed to investigate the efficacy of blended models of care by evaluating its impact on the therapeutic alliance, clinical and social outcomes, cost-effectiveness, and engagement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lee Valentine
- Orygen, Melbourne, Australia.,Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Carla McEnery
- Orygen, Melbourne, Australia.,Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.,Centre for Mental Health, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Imogen Bell
- Orygen, Melbourne, Australia.,Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Shaunagh O'Sullivan
- Orygen, Melbourne, Australia.,Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Ingrid Pryor
- Orygen, Melbourne, Australia.,Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - John Gleeson
- School of Behavioural and Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, Australia.,Healthy Brain and Mind Research Centre, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Sarah Bendall
- Orygen, Melbourne, Australia.,Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Mario Alvarez-Jimenez
- Orygen, Melbourne, Australia.,Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
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