Abstract
Objective: Deficiencies in Australia’s mental health systems persist despite over a decade of mental health reform. Recent developments in ehealth provide the opportunity to facilitate health reform and improve services. This paper presents preliminary findings from the implementation of a comprehensive e-health system, called RecoveryRoad, which was designed to augment the routine clinical treatment of depression.
Methods: Depressed patients (n = 144) were referred to RecoveryRoad from a public hospital and public and private clinics in Perth, Western Australia. Online features included secure e-consultations, progress monitoring questionnaires, psychoeducation and evidence-based therapy. Treating clinicians had online access to patients’ progress monitoring outcomes and e-consultations. There were two types of adherence reminders: automated email reminders and personalized case management delivered by email and telephone.
Results: Adherence to the system was high (from 53% to 84%, depending on the modality of reminder), and self-reported medication adherence was over 90%. Average depression severity declined from severe to mild by the eighth session, a large effect (d = 1.0). Both clinicians and patients were generally satisfied with the programme and reported that it improved clini-cian–patient relationships. Clinicians also reported that it helped patients to better manage depression.
Conclusions: Preliminary findings support the feasibility of comprehensive e-health systems in enhancing the delivery of mental health care.