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Studies to examine online mental health therapy methods
Talkspace, a text-therapy company that connects people with licensed therapists online, has announced a partnership with Teachers College, Columbia University, to study methods of treating mental health conditions — including depression and anxiety — through digital platforms.
The company is also negotiating a similar partnership with Duke University, and Patricia Resick, PhD, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Duke University School of Medicine, to examine Talkspace’s effectiveness in treating PTSD. Together, the two clinical research studies will focus on evaluating Talkspace’s efficiency and efficacy in treating stress, anxiety, depression and PTSD, according to the company.
“Mental health is a serious issue, and regardless if it's being treated in a therapist's office or by a therapist through an app, there's a certain standard that must be met,” Roni Frank, Talkspace cofounder and head of clinical services, said in a press release. “Online therapy has shown its effectiveness in treating a variety of conditions through platforms such as video. The likes of messaging therapy too need to be studied to these extents. For this reason, it was imperative that we work alongside renowned researchers at respected institutions to build clinical data around the effectiveness and capabilities of Talkspace's mobile and web-based therapy practices.”
The two new studies will follow a preliminary study of Talkspace’s text-based psychotherapy, which has been submitted for publishing, the company said in the release
Barry Farber, PhD, professor of psychology and education, and editor at the Journal of Clinical Psychology, and George Nitzburg, PhD, an adjunct assistant professor, will lead the clinical research at Teachers College.
Founded in 2012, Talkspace provides on-demand access to therapist through its online messaging platform, charging users $25 per week. According to the company, more than 150,000 people in the United States. have used its service, which features hundreds of licensed therapists on the Talkspace network. – by Jason Laday
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