3D Avatars Speaking Out For Depression Patients
Being diagnosed with clinical depression is both a blessing and a curse – you learn that there are ways of coping with it, but then it can be difficult to talk about, particularly to those who have already made up their mind about you. Clinical depression can be a huge obstacle to overcome, encroaching on your day-to-day life, shadowing the urge to drink or to eat excessively. Worse still, family problems may be tied to the problems that you are going through. So much so that opening up is something of a luxury – if you can find an opportunity to.
3D avatars may be the answer.
It is no surprise that in the modern, digital age of computers, social networking is something of a common occurrence, with billions flocking to popular websites such as Facebook and Reddit. As a result, connecting with others has never been more prominent as it is today.
The focus group was conducted through a virtual meeting room, with patients selecting 3D avatars to represent themselves.
The results were somewhat astounding.
“Patients were more comfortable in revealing honestly their symptoms. We could get them to engage more constructively and converse more quickly with each other compared with face-to-face sessions,” said Frank Gabbert, senior vice president and director of the qualitative practice at the market research firm Lieberman.
It was found that patients were more able to convey their thoughts and feelings and were able to converse quicker with one another, rather than sitting awkwardly at a focus group. With those suffering from clinical depression, it can take up to eight to twelve years of therapy for patients to open up about themselves. By shortening that time span, doctors were able to properly diagnose and help their patients.
Online treatment has spurred itself forward, giving the term “the talking cure” another string to its bow. The power of words is a wonderful thing – it just takes the right moment, the right people – and possibly a comfier seat.
Sit back and let your thoughts do the talking.
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