PTSD Coach around the world

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Eric Kuhn - , Department of Veterans Affairs (Author)
  • Christianne van der Meer - , University of Amsterdam (Author)
  • Jason E Owen - , Department of Veterans Affairs (Author)
  • Julia E Hoffman - , Department of Veterans Affairs (Author)
  • Richard Cash - , University of Melbourne (Author)
  • Pasqualina Carrese - , Veterans Affairs Canada (Author)
  • Miranda Olff - , University of Amsterdam (Author)
  • Anne Bakker - , University of Amsterdam (Author)
  • Julia Schellong - , Department of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Patrick Lorenz - , Department of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine (Author)
  • Matthias Schopp - , Jaume I University (Author)
  • Heinrich Rau - , German Federal Armed Forces Hospital Berlin (Author)
  • Kerstin Weidner - , Department of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Filip K Arnberg - , Uppsala University (Author)
  • Martin Cernvall - , Uppsala University (Author)
  • Thomas Iversen - , Aarhus University (Author)

Abstract

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a global public health problem. Unfortunately, many individuals with PTSD do not receive professional care due to a lack of available providers, stigma about mental illness, and other concerns. Technology-based interventions, including mobile phone applications (apps) may be a viable means of surmounting such barriers and reaching and helping those in need. Given this potential, in 2011 the U.S Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD released PTSD Coach, a mobile app intended to provide psycho-education and self-management tools for trauma survivors with PTSD symptoms. Emerging research on PTSD Coach demonstrates high user satisfaction, feasibility, and improvement in PTSD symptoms and other psychosocial outcomes. A model of openly sharing the app's source code and content has resulted in versions being created by individuals in six other countries: Australia, Canada, The Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, and Denmark. These versions are described, highlighting their significant adaptations, enhancements, and expansions to the original PTSD Coach app as well as emerging research on them. It is clear that the sharing of app source code and content has benefited this emerging PTSD Coach community, as well as the populations they are targeting. Despite this success, challenges remain especially reaching trauma survivors in areas where few or no other mental health resources exist.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)15
JournalmHealth
Volume4
Publication statusPublished - 2018
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMedCentral PMC5994444

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals