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Lucassen, Mathijs F. G.; Hatcher, Simon; Fleming, Theresa M.; Stasiak, Karolina; Shepherd, Matthew J. and Merry, Sally N.
(2015).
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1039856215579542
Abstract
Objective: To describe the experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual or sexual minority youth who used a form of computerised therapy (Rainbow SPARX) for depression.
Methods: 25 adolescents (20 with significant depressive symptoms) who had trialled Rainbow SPARX took part in semi-structured interviews. The general inductive approach was used to analyse interview data.
Results: Feedback consisted of five main themes: ‘appealing aspects’; ‘applying it to real life’; ‘things to improve’; ‘aspects that did not appeal’; and ‘other themes’. Young people suggested that there should be more sexuality-specific (‘rainbow’) content in the computer program. Seventeen participants thought computerised therapy helped them feel better or less depressed.
Conclusions: Consumer perspectives are increasingly being sought and this user input is especially useful for improving services. Our study provides important in-depth feedback on Rainbow SPARX from the perspective of sexual minority youth, and it highlights that computerised therapies can be successfully modified for groups traditionally under-served by mainstream mental health interventions.
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)
