Space-Age Self Help
Computerized Program Provides Psychological Counseling

Self-help books and motivational tapes may soon be replaced by a computerized system designed to help people work through issues such as conflict resolution or mild depression.

Under development for astronauts on extended missions, the system will assist in preventing, assessing and managing social and psychological problems. With some modifications, the system has the potential to benefit everyone – from those living and working in extreme environments such as outer space or on submarines or oil rigs, to those residing in more traditional city, suburb, or farm settings.

"Researchers have shown that people are often more comfortable revealing sensitive information to a computer, rather than to a clinician, and they are more likely to acknowledge problems using computer-based assessments," said James Carter, Ph.D., a neurobehavioral and psychosocial researcher with the National Space Biomedical Research Institute. The institute is a NASA-funded consortium of 12 medical institutions, including Baylor College of Medicine, that are studying the health risks related to long-duration space flight, then transferring the knowledge learned to benefit patients on Earth.

"The stresses of long-duration space flight such as separation from family, loss of privacy and limited social outlets can lead to mood disturbances, loss of sleep, conflict, work problems and, potentially, depression," said Carter, who serves as senior researcher at the Interactive Media Laboratory at Dartmouth Medical School and is a licensed clinical psychologist.

A virtual space station will serve as the setting for the program, which will provide assessment, treatment, prevention and education. The program will integrate graphics along with audio and video multimedia designed to create a realistic environment.

The prototype will include three modules for users – conflict management, treatment of mild depression and psychological self-assessment. The goal is to prevent these problems from occurring, but if they do, crewmembers will have the program on board to provide assistance.

"The system will help crewmembers recognize and deal with problems early on," Carter explained. The program is not designed to offer pharmaceutical advice," he cautioned.

"Ideally, the program will be added to the training astronauts undergo before a mission," said Jay Buckey Jr., M.D., project co-investigator and principal subject-matter expert.

Now a physician at Dartmouth, Buckey served extensively in the space program and flew as a payload specialist on the STS-90 Neurolab mission.

"The program will help users identify and be alert for signs of depression and diffuse any conflicts that could arise."

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©2006 Texas Medical Center

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