The Internet has the potential to increase the capacity and accessibility of mental health services. This study aimed to investigate whether an unguided Internet-based self-help intervention delivered without human support or guidance can reduce symptoms of depression in young people at risk of depression. The study also aimed to explore the usage of such sites in a real-life setting, to estimate the effects of the intervention for those who received a meaningful intervention dose and to evaluate user satisfaction. Young adults were recruited by means of a screening survey sent to all students at the University of Tromsø. Of those responding to the survey, 163 students (mean age 28.2 years) with elevated psychological distress were recruited to the trial and randomized to an Internet intervention condition or the waiting list control group. The Internet condition comprised a depression information website and a self-help Web application delivering automated cognitive behavioural therapy. The participants in the waiting list condition were free to access formal or informal help as usual. Two-thirds of the users who completed the trial initially reported an unmet need for help. The findings demonstrated that an unguided intervention was effective in reducing symptoms of depression and negative thoughts and in increasing depression literacy in young adults. Significant improvements were found at 2-month follow up. Internet-based interventions can be effective without tracking and thus constitute a minimal cost intervention for reaching a large number of people. User satisfaction among participants was high.

The children in our sample showed age-appropriate levels of executive functions before attending PIH. Some aspects of executive skills difficulties were reduced after PIH. Using BRIEF-P contributed to the differentiation of cognitive strengths and weaknesses among the children.

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Objective: To evaluate the effect on parents of participating in an intensified multimodal programme of habilitation for preschool children with cerebral palsy (CP). Methods: Thirteen preschool children with CP, and their parents attended four in-patient sessions during the programme period of one-and-a-half years. During each group session, the parents were given lessons in coping strategies and positive adaptation. A group of six CP children receiving traditional follow-up habilitation services and their parents were used as controls. Parental effects were evaluated with Parental Stress Index (PSI) and Life Orientation Test (LOT). Results: Mothers in the intervention group had reduced scores below clinical level on both domains of PSI and an increase in LOT score after the intervention period. No changes in scores were seen for fathers or parents in the control group. Conclusions: The intervention programme seemed to reduce stress and increase optimism among mothers of participating CP children.

Abstract:Background: To describe optimism and sense of coherence in mothers and fathers of