June 2003
From Louisiana Tech University
CEnIT seed grant grows a helping hand Better data, better diagnosis Supported by a grant through CEnIT, the Center for Entrepreneurship and Information Technology, researchers at Louisiana Tech are testing handheld computers as a way to support and improve diagnosis and treatment of mood and anxiety disorders.Tony Young, head of the psychology and behavioral sciences department, said asking patients to remember and summarize their feelings over a period of time � the standard approach in assessment -- is not as useful as asking about their psychological state several times per day. "With a handheld computer, we can gather real-time data by asking specific questions to more accurately assess how a client is functioning each day," he said. Using the specially programmed instrument, patients complete a short survey several times a day. Young said the handheld, with its alarm reminders and convenience, allows for more reliable reporting. Testing of the handhelds is taking place in additional areas of research applications, he said, including use by professionals who work with mentally or developmentally disabled clients in residential settings. "We believe you get more reliable and valid data, and with better data you can make better treatment decisions," he said. | |