The world’s first study on a smartphone-based treatment

In February, I will be starting the world’s first scientific psychological study of a smartphone-based treatment. The study is conducted at the University of Linköping, and will investigate whether a completely new treatment for depression, administrated via smartphone, can reduce dysphoria and improve life quality.

If you feel low or depressed, and have a smartphone, you can sign up to participate in the study here. Two ways of working with depression via smartphone will be tested in the study. One is based on behavioral activation, the other one on mindfulness practice. If you chose to participate in the study, you will get to try one of these. The treatment is free and no travels or visits are demanded. It starts in mid-February and continues for eight weeks.

After I was interviewed by journalist Lotta Bromé in the radio show P4 Extra, several people have contacted me wanting to sign up for the study. These are people who have seeked psychological help for their depression, but have been denied treatment due to lack of resources. It is my hope that by this study, we will be able to develop a new, cost-effective treatment available for the many. In addition, we place it in the device that people use most of all in their daily life – their smartphones. The increasing sales rates of smartphones indicates an enormous potential for reaching people with this kind of cost-effective treatments.

/Hoa