Computer-Based Psychosocial Interventions

The use of computer-mediated therapies, including online e-therapy, online support groups, and computer-assisted therapies, has become more and more widespread in recent years. The main reason for the increased interest in such techniques is the desire to offer a wide variety of support methods in order to increase access to psychosocial services and increase patient choice. The provision of psychological support within healthcare services is currently limited, and even when it is available some people cannot access and do not engage with face-to-face services. Therefore it is important to offer alternative models to increase the availability and uptake of psychosocial interventions amongst potential clients and to remove the barriers to support. This article starts by outlining some of the different models of computer-based interventions currently in use. It then discusses key issues to be considered when designing and evaluating such interventions using the example of a recently developed online support tool for adults with visible differences, known as Face IT.