Background
In previous research, the Unit for Social & Community Psychiatry developed an intervention called “DIALOG+” designed for service users with schizophrenia. DIALOG+ involves mental health staff using a tablet computer to ask service users about their satisfaction with different areas of their life. The app helps to structure the conversations about different issues affecting service users' quality of life. Service users and staff then work together to find solutions to concerns that are raised using a 4-step process based on the principles of something called ‘solution-focused therapy’.
This process is repeated during clinical appointments over several months.
After using DIALOG+, service users with schizophrenia were more satisfied with life and had fewer symptoms. Patients and staff found the approach helpful and it saved the NHS money. As it helped people to find practical solutions to their concerns, it was thought that DIALOG+ might also work for those with depression.
The TACK project, therefore, aims to establish if TACK can be applied to people with chronic depression and how effective DIALOG+ will be for these people.
DIALOG+ app
- The DIALOG+ app is available to be downloaded for Android devices and Apple iPads
- (The app is currently not available on iPhones).
- For more information on the app please visit DIALOG website