New therapeutic option
More than a thousand people have by now participated in the internet program 15 Minutes 4 Me, which has soon existed for three years. Both people with a pure stress-bound disorder (such as depression, anxiety, or burnout) and people with a psychosomatic disorder which is caused by stress can - after paying 55 euros - find online self-help. The program can be considered to be an extra option when it comes to therapeutic treatments. Half of the participants follow the program for a month, while the other half continues right away or months later.
Less stress, more contentment, and more change of behavior
Koeck, MD, developed the self-help model in 2008, working together with psychiatrist Luc Isebaert as well as several international colleagues. He launched the new therapeutic instrument without any government subsidies. From a pilot study using 37 participants, it was shown that 77% stress reduction and 40% more contentment in life was present after a month. A scientific follow-up study using the first thousand participants is on its way. Working closely together with vzw Doctors for Doctors, a new burnout module for doctors will also be integrated in the 2.0 version. Koeck, MD, highlights that each patient can autonomously choose between different modules: "Every week, he or she can pick a different module (with solution focused questions and psycho-educational film clips) on top of the core program. This latter contains repetitive elements which make it so that the new way of thinking becomes a habit and gets a constant character. Also, the freedom of choice increases the compliance. Treatment can namely only give results if the patient himself feels good about it.