Abstract
Internet-Delivered Psychological Treatments (IDPT) are based on evidence-based psychological treatment models adjusted for interaction through the Internet. The use of Internet technologies has the potential to increase the availability of evidence-based mental health services for a far-reaching population with the use of fewer resources. Despite evidence that Internet Interventions can be effective means in mental health morbidities, most current IDPT systems are tunnel-based, inflexible, and non-interoperable. Hence it becomes essential to understand which elements of an Internet intervention contribute to effectiveness and treatment outcomes. By analogy, adaptation is a central aspect of successful face-to-face mental health therapy. Adaptability to patient needs can be regarded as an essential outcome factor in online systems for mental health interventions as well. While some aspects of rule-based and machine-learning-based adaptation have attracted attention in recent IDPT development, systematic reporting of core components, dimensions of adaptiveness, information architecture, and strategies for adaptation in the IDPT system are still lacking. To bridge this gap, we propose a model that shows how adaptive systems are represented in classical control theory and discuss how the model can be used to specify adaptive IDPT systems. Concerning the reference model, we outline the core components of adaptive IDPT systems, the main adaptive elements, dimensions of adaptiveness, information architecture applied to adaptive systems, and strategies used in the adaptation process. We also provide comprehensive guidelines on how to develop an adaptive IDPT system based on the Person-Based Approach.
Highlights
In face-to-face therapy for mental health, therapists adapt their behavior towards their patients, to ensure the highest likelihood of successful therapeutic outcomes
Concerning the reference model, we outline the core components of adaptive Internet-Delivered Psychological Treatments (IDPT) systems, the main adaptive elements, dimensions of adaptiveness, information architecture applied in adaptive systems, and several strategies used in the adaptation process
We provide comprehensive guidelines on how to develop an adaptive IDPT system building on the Person-Based Approach
Summary
In face-to-face therapy for mental health, therapists adapt their behavior towards their patients, to ensure the highest likelihood of successful therapeutic outcomes. The Person-Based Approach (PBA) is a development methodology aimed at overcoming both Information and Communications Technology (ICT)-related and human-related challenges to build successful interventions for people to manage their health or illness [4]. We consider the main contribution of our study to be a conceptual framework combining the systemic approach of model-driven software development of adaptive systems supporting online mental health therapy, with the empirically driven design framework of PBA. Both perspectives share the goal of facilitating the highest possible use of digital mental health interventions.
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