A study compared the effects of conventional face-to-face therapy and therapy using new technologies on indicators of mental and physical well-being. 280 participants were divided into groups receiving face-to-face lifestyle intervention, online intervention, mobile intervention, or serving as a control. Preliminary results found all intervention forms benefited in reducing depression symptoms. Mobile and online therapies were as effective as interpersonal sessions in preventing depression. The findings show the value of technology-assisted therapy in delivering treatment anywhere and anytime.

1. New methods for delivering therapies for
better well-being
www.salwe.fi
What improvements in well-being can be obtained by using new technologies to promote lifestyle
changes? A unique multidisciplinary study within SalWe’s Mind and Body Programme measured
the effects on health of various kinds of therapy using advanced technologies and compared them
with the results of conventional face-to-face therapy.
Metabolic syndrome and type-2 diabetes can be prevented and even treated by encouraging people at risk
to change their lifestyles. However, lifestyle changes
require significant mental capabilities..
In SalWe’s Mind and Body Programme, the research
teams at the Universities of Helsinki, Eastern Finland
and Jyväskylä, VTT Technical Research Centre and the
Finnish Institute of Occupational Health have joined
forces with Duodecim Publishing, Firstbeat Technologies, Valio, the Finnish Red Cross Blood Service and
Vivago to study the impact of modern psychological
interventions on indicators of mental and physical
health.
“As the basis for measurements of behavioural modification, we chose acceptance and commitment therapy,
which aims to increase individual psychological flexibility and which has produced good results among
many patients,” says Marjukka Kolehmainen, senior
scientist at the University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio.
“We wanted to see whether the changes in well-being
yielded by the therapy can be measured by traditional
SalWe - Strategic Centre for Science, Technology and Innovation in Health and Well-being

2. “Studies of intervention therapy are a fine example of
what can be achieved by a Strategic Centre for Science,
Technology and Innovation. Without SalWe’s Mind and
Body Programme, it would not have happened.”
indicators of mental and physical well-being. At the
same time we compared the results obtained by delivering the therapy using modern communications
technologies. This provides comparable data on how
of mild depression if the treatment is provided at
an early stage. This would free up professionals to
treat more serious cases.
online and mobile services can be used to promote
well-being.”
Benefits of cross-disciplinary research
Promising preliminary results in combating
depression
A total of 280 people took part in the study. They
were divided into a face-to-face lifestyle intervention group, an online intervention group, a mobile
technology-based intervention group and a control
group.
“As for depression symptoms, the preliminary results
seem to show that all forms of intervention were
beneficial,” says Professor Raimo Lappalainen of
Jyväskylä University.
Miikka Ermes of VTT points out that the findings currently available show the value of therapy assisted by
modern technologies. “Mobile and online therapies
were as effective in preventing depression as interpersonal sessions with a psychologist. The benefit comes
from the fact that technology can deliver the therapy
anywhere, anytime.”
He adds that a mobile phone is no replacement for
a healthcare professional. However, technology might
be used to treat a significant proportion of cases
“Studies of intervention therapy are a fine example
of what can be achieved by a Strategic Centre for
Science, Technology and Innovation. This SHOK concept has brought together the top enterprises and
researchers of the field,” says Marjukka Kolehmainen.
“Without SalWe’s Mind and Body Programme, it would
not have happened.”
More information
Miikka Ermes
programme manager
VTT Technical Research Centre
miikka.ermes@vtt.fi
+358 40 530 9273
Marjukka Kolehmainen
senior scientist
University of Eastern Finland
marjukka.kolehmainen@uef.fi
+358 40 355 3617
Raimo Lappalainen
professor
University of Jyväskylä
raimo.lappalainen@psyka.jyu.fi
+358 50 443 2349
SalWe - Strategic Centre for Science, Technology and Innovation in Health and Well-being