Information for EOPCN Referring Clinicians

Welcome! We look forward to partnering with you to offer this innovative technology to help meet your patients’ mental health needs. ePST provides 6 sessions of Problem-solving Therapy (PST) guided by a warm and supportive pre-recorded expert psychologist. ePST closely follows the Problem-solving Treatment for Primary Care protocol that is widely used in collaborative care management of depression in primary care settings. ePST allows you to reach more patients with PST, which is an evidence-based treatment with robust reach support.

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This page provides answer to common questions about ePST and links to orientation materials. Feel free to reach out to us at support@evermindgroup.com if you have questions or need technical support.

All Types of Patients

Research on PST from across the globe has shown it to be effective for individuals of all ages and from various socio-economic and cultural backgrounds. There is good reason to expect that results for ePST in your setting will mirror these findings.

ePST is video-based and not text-heavy. It currently requires fluency in English.

ePST is currently only being offered to adults (over age 18).

ePST requires the ability to listen to and watch the program and respond by typing and clicking a mouse or tapping the screen. Patients with certain physical limitations may be limited in their use of the program without assistance.

ePST can be used with patients dealing with suicidal thoughts, social isolation, or limited interpersonal skills.

Reducing Suicidal Thoughts

Studies have shown that PST can reduce suicidal thoughts and is effective as tool in suicide prevention. However, it is advisable that patients who have expressed suicidal intent or plan receive live therapy while using ePST. PST is appropriate for use in conjunction with other forms of therapy for patients in crisis.

Notifications are sent to clinical monitors if an individual endorses suicidal thoughts. It is the clinic’s responsibility to review and respond accordingly.

Decreasing Social Isolation

Reduced social interaction is common among individuals with depression. Research suggests that social interaction can improve and loneliness can decrease through PST. Clinicians may suggest to patients who are socially isolated that they address this problem directly within ePST.

For Those with Limited Interpersonal Skills

Patients often find the ePST model less intimidating than meeting with a live therapist. With less anxiety about sharing personal information, patients may be more focused and responsive to problem-solving in ePST. While ePST does not directly teach social skills, it can lead to improvement in social functioning. Individuals with substantial deficits in social skills can benefit, even if additional interventions are warranted.

How do I enroll my patients?

You can easily refer a patient from your ePST Manager dashboard. Entering patients’ names and emails will generate an automated email inviting them to view an introductory video, enroll, and get started.

The program helps users schedule all sessions. ePST is used once each week for 6 weeks, plus a one-month follow-up questionnaire. Automatic email reminders and help rescheduling is built in.

View the ePST Demo Video

Research shows that people who finish all 6 sessions benefit most.

Do I need to be familiar with PST?

Having a basic knowledge of PST is helpful, though not necessary.

You can explain that:

ePST guides the client through learning the specific steps of problem-solving and applying them to their own life problems.
Learning problem-solving skills can lead to feeling a greater sense of control, which can reduce depression.
A virtual expert therapist guides the client each session.
ePST customizes the experience based on users’ responses.

The Problem-solving Steps:

Choose and clarify a practical problem to solve
Identify a realistic short-term goal
Brainstorm solutions
Identify the pros and cons of each solution
Select one or more solution to try
Write an action plan to implement the solution(s)
Evaluate the outcome

Users also receive guidance in increasing pleasurable activities in daily life, which can help reduce depression.

Can I try out ePST myself?

Yes. As a clinician offering ePST to your clients, we recommend that you take ePST for a “test drive” to familiarize with the client experience.

Also, research suggests that clinicians can learn skills for implementing problem-solving treatment in their practice by using ePST themselves for at least 4 sessions.

You can start a test drive by logging in to ePST Manager and clicking on “ePST Trainer.” Then create an ePST account in ePST with the same username and password that you used to register in ePST Manager.

If you don’t have login credentials for ePST Manager, ask your Site Admin to send you and invitation. Any staff at your organization can register in ePST Manager and access ePST Trainer to use ePST for training purposes.

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What kind of technology support is needed?

Technical support should not be needed.

ePST can be used on desktop and mobile devices and is compatible with all widely-used current browsers (NOTE: Internet Explorer (IE) is no longer supported and cannot handle the technology used in ePST).

ePST is web-based and can be used on any device connected to the internet (wifi or cellular) or on designated computers within your clinic. (Kiosk computers should be located in a private space and/or be equipped with head phones to ensure confidentiality.)

You and your clients can access supplemental materials such as the written Problem-solving Treatment Manual at evermindgroup.com/client-materials (Password=ePSTuser)