ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Digital technology (e-health or 'blended' care), combined with evidence-based face-to-face CBT, is becoming increasingly implemented into mental health care and is expected to result in improved effectiveness and efficiency. AIM: To explore the feasibility of blended CBT for patients with a panic disorder. METHOD: Nine face-to-face sessions of blended CBT (n = 18), supplemented with the digital support of a tabletcomputer and three e-mail contacts, were compared with 12 weekly sessions of regular CBT (n = 18). Primary outcomes were panic frequency and avoidance behaviour; the secondary outcome was general functioning. Patients' experiences of the treatment were collected in the form of a structured interview. RESULTS: The effect sizes found in both the regular and the blended CBT were medium to high (Cohen's d 0.42-1.60). In both types of treatment there was a significant reduction in patients' symptoms. There were no big differences in patient satisfaction regarding the treatment received. The therapists registered 39 face-to-face minutes in the blended treatment but they registered in total 41 fewer face-to-face minutes; this represented a time reduction of 4%. CONCLUSION: Blended CBT with help of a tablet computer seems to be a suitable method for treating panic disorder psychologically, although the time saved is only moderate. Much more research is needed to ascertain the feasibility and the cost effectiveness of blended CBT.
Subject(s)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy/methods , Internet , Panic Disorder/therapy , Self Care/standards , Adult , Cognitive Behavioral Therapy/standards , Combined Modality Therapy , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Netherlands , Outcome Assessment, Health Care , Patient Satisfaction , Self Care/methods , Treatment Outcome , Young AdultABSTRACT
In inspection of materials, noncontact generation and detection of ultrasound using laser techniques has a growing interest. Before using these techniques in practical inspection tasks, some problems have to be overcome. To obtain maximum sensitivity for the detection of defects, control of beam direction and focusing of the generated ultrasound is of major importance. For this purpose a fiber-optic phase array technique was developed. Some optical techniques for ultrasound detection are compared, especially for detection at diffusely reflecting surfaces. A system based on the use of a confocal Fabry-Perot interferometer is best suited for this detection task. With the addition of a multimode fiber to this system as a flexible sensing lead, inspection can be carried out from a remote location and scanned detection is facilitated.
ABSTRACT
Chromosome analysis of G-banded cells from 92 individuals consecutively referred to the Cytogenetics Laboratory show that the paracentromeric band in the short arm (6p11), which stains negatively with G-banding and darkly with C-banding, shows a marked increase in size in about 9% of chromosome no. 6. The results of this study and those from a family in which two variants of chromosome no. 6 are segregating are compatible with a Mendelian pattern of inheritance.
