Research Catalog

Details

Additional authors

1. National Defense Research Institute (U.S.), issuing body.

Description

1. xvi, 128 pages : illustrations (some color); 28 cm

Summary

1. This report describes RAND Corporation researchers' assessment of SimCoach, a computer program featuring a virtual human that speaks and gestures in a video game-like interface, designed to encourage service members, especially those with signs or symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or depression, to seek help to improve their psychological health. The assessment included a formative component assessing SimCoach's design, development, and implementation approaches and a summative component assessing outcomes among participants in a user experience survey and a randomized controlled trial (RCT). Results of the formative evaluation identified both strengths and opportunities for improvement. For example, although SimCoach development processes were well-aligned with best practices for software engineering, SimCoach content development and evaluation processes could have been more tightly coupled to best practices in psychological health. The summative evaluation RCT did not show any SimCoach-related benefit in intent to seek help compared with that of control users not exposed to any intervention. However, secondary outcomes indicated that SimCoach users had satisfying experiences without distress. If SimCoach development is continued, greater attention to clinical processes and outcomes is needed so that the program can have its intended impact on help-seeking for PTSD and depression.

Series statement

1. [Research report] ; RR-505-OSD

Uniform title

1. Research report (Rand Corporation) ; RR-505-OSD.

Alternative title

1. Virtual human intervention to encourage service-member help-seeking for posttraumatic stress disorder and depression

Subject

1. Depression, Mental > Treatment > United States > Computer simulation
2. Depression, Mental > United States
3. Post-traumatic stress disorder > United States
4. Virtual reality in medicine
5. Soldiers > Mental health services > United States > Computer simulation
6. Post-traumatic stress disorder > Treatment > United States > Computer simulation

Call number

1. JFF 16-491

Note

1. At head of title: Rand National Defense Research Institute.
2. "Prepared for the Office of the Secretary of Defense."

Bibliography (note)

1. Includes bibliographical references (pages 123-128).

Author

1. Meeker, Daniella, author.

Title

1. SimCoach evaluation : a virtual human intervention to encourage service-member help-seeking for posttraumatic stress disorder and depression / Daniella Meeker, Jennifer L. Cerully, Megan D. Johnson, Neema Iyer, Jeremy R. Kurz, Deborah M. Scharf.

Publisher

1. Santa Monica, Calif. : Rand Corporation, [2015]

Copyright date

1. ©2015

Type of content

1. text

Type of medium

1. unmediated

Type of carrier

1. volume

Series

1. [Research report] ; RR-505-OSD
2. Research report (Rand Corporation) ; RR-505-OSD.

Bibliography

1. Includes bibliographical references (pages 123-128).

Connect to:

1. http://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR505.html
2. Publisher description

Added author

1. National Defense Research Institute (U.S.), issuing body.

LCCN

1. 2015949805

ISBN

1. 9780833088130
2. 0833088130

Research call number

1. JFF 16-491