Faculty: Noa Morag, Hadas Erel
Students: Eden Grossman, Sagi Hatan, Noam Kimchi, Ofir Nash

As the use of communication on social media among children increases, the cyberbullying phenomena is becoming a prominent challenge. We present the preliminary design of Tobe, a virtual keyboard that provides textual and visual feedback in real-time to help prevent harmful discourse on social media among elementary school-aged children. The widget is designed based on two unique principles: (1) An empathy-based feedback mechanism that involves an animated character and verbal statements (both positive and negative); (2) A class-specific solution in which children and the teacher build a vocabulary of words together. This element provides transparency as to why feedback was shown at any given moment and can increase cooperation and empowerment for both the teacher and the children. We present the human-centered design process and early results from a user study with 12 children. Our findings show high engagement with the system, and user awareness before texting.
For more information please contact Noa Morag: noa.morag@milab.idc.ac.il

The aim of this study was to empirically assess the utility of GG-Suicide-Ideation (GGSI), a theory-based mobile application for the prevention of suicide ideation. GGSI is based on principles of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which have been found to be an effective treatment for decreasing suicide risk.

The main research hypotheses were that in the experimental group, after 15 days of using GGSU app there will be a substantial decrease in the level of suicide ideation and associated risk factors, like depression, mental pain, hopelessness, and cognitive change, compared to the control group. In addition, the study examined the hypothesis that the decrease in said measures in the experimental group will maintain after 15 days of follow-up.

91 participants (66 women and 25 men) completed all parts of the study (30 students, two patients from the depression unit, and 59 participants from the general population), and were randomly assigned to the experimental group (n=45) or the control group (n=46).  

Findings indicated that compared to the control group, in the experimental group there was a significant improvement in the levels of hopelessness after 15 days of using GGSU, the effect size index indicated a medium sized effect. This improvement was maintained at a 15-day follow-up. Participants  found the app effective for them, at least to a small extent. no significant effect was found on suicide ideation, depression, mental pain, and cognitive change after using the app. In further analyzes performed for the depression index, which was found close to significance in the main analysis, support was found for the possibility that using the app contributes to a reduction in depression levels.

This study is preliminary, but the first to examine and find that an app can stably reduce a significant factor as hopelessness. In light of these findings, therapists can consider integrating GGSU into treatment, considering its advantages and limitations. In addition, follow-up studies should be conducted, with a larger and more accurate population, and among other interest populations.

For more information please contact Danielle Sarah Benayau daniellec2030@gmail.com

In this fully remote randomized controlled trial (RCT) comprising 315 individuals from 45 states in the US, Prof. Ben-Zeev from the University of Washington, Guy Doron from Reichman University and colleagues showed that 3-4 min of daily training on a mobile app for a month can significantly reduce depression, anxiety, and disability levels of people with SMI. Moreover, the training also increased positive recovery attitudes and self-esteem of users.

For more information, please contact Guy Doron gdoron@idc.ac.il

Subclinical levels of OCD symptoms are more common than full OCD diagnosis (estimates ranging from 2 to 25 percent) and may increase risk for later development of full diagnosis of OCD. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has been linked with increased OCD symptom severity. In this randomized controlled trial (RCT) undertaken in Turkey, Guy Doron and his colleague showed that 2 weeks of brief game-like cognitive training on a mobile app are associated with large-effect size reductions in OCD symptoms and associated cognitions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

https://www.jmir.org/2021/11/e29201 

For more information, please contact Guy Doron gdoron@idc.ac.il

Body image concerns are common and easily triggered by exposure to social media. In this randomized controlled trial (RCT), Guy Doron and his student Dinur Aboody showed that 2 weeks of brief game-like cognitive training on a mobile app reduces body image distress and increases positive attitudes towards the body in women students. Moreover, women using the app showed less body image distress in an Instagram exposure resilience task immediately following training and at 1-month follow-up.

For more information, please contact Guy Doron: gdoron@idc.ac.il

Relationship obsessive-compulsive disorder (ROCD) is a disabling presentation of OCD centering on interpersonal relationships. In this randomized controlled trial (RCT) undertaken in Italy, Guy Doron and his colleagues showed that 2 weeks of short game-like cognitive training on a mobile app is associated with reduced ROCD symptoms, OCD related beliefs and social anxiety symptoms, as well as increased self-esteem compared to the control group. Moreover, reliable change (assessed using the reliable Change Index; RCI) suggested 42–52% of participants showed reliable reductions in ROCD symptoms.

For more information, please contact Guy Doron: gdoron@idc.ac.il

Interventions shown to be effective using randomized controlled trials (RCTs) may be less effective in real-world settings for several reasons including the exclusion of certain participants, the use of incentives to complete the interventions (e.g., monetary or course credits), and possible face-to-face contact with the researchers. In this study, Martha Giraldo-O'Meara & Guy Doron analyzed real-world data from the self-esteem module of the GGtude platform. The results showed significant increases in self-esteem ratings across three-time points. Dropout rates across assessment points were associated with younger age, and males showed significantly higher self-esteem scores than women at baseline and the second assessment point.

For more information, please contact Guy Doron: gdoron@idc.ac.il

Dr. Shiri Sadeh-Sharvit and Prof. Brunstein Klomek received research funding from the Israel Defense Forces to study a novel, digital, blended therapy for soldiers with eating disorders. Approximately 8% of females 18-22 years old will experience an eating disorder, which is a highly debilitating illness. Effective treatments for eating disorders exist, but less than 20% of individuals affected by this condition seek treatment. Soldiers with eating disorders may experience increased barriers to receiving therapy, including geographical access, stigma, and fear of being discharged from their military unit. Digital tools can help overcome some of these challenges, increase treatment access, help soldiers remain in service, and prevent additional medical and mental problems. This study tests the feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of a digital intervention for soldiers with eating disorders that incorporates elements from cognitive behavioral therapy and interpersonal therapy. We will test whether the digital program improves soldiers’ body image and eating disorder symptoms, depression, anxiety, and military adjustment.

:For more information, please contact Shiri Sadeh-Sharvit sshiri@idc.ac.il

The high prevalence of touch screen devices in the lives of preschool children has prompted increased research on the effects of tablets on children's learning and skills. However, to date, little empirical research has investigated how this technology can influence young children's socio-emotional learning. In the present study, Prof. Anat Shoshani, Shira Nelke, and Inbal Girtler conducted two experiments that examined the effects of playing prosocial touch-screen applications on 3- to 6-year-olds’ subsequent prosocial behavior. The study showed that playing prosocial game applications produced higher levels of helping behavior towards the experimenter and same-aged actual and hypothetical peers compared to violent and neutral game conditions. The findings suggest that touch screen applications may contribute to fostering prosocial behavior in early childhood.

:For more information, please contact Anat Shoshani ashoshani@idc.ac.il

Stress and emotional distress are an integral part of life. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is an example of an unexpected stressor that intensifies emotional distress among the general population and may lead to an increase in psychopathologies and suicides following the pandemic. Thus, it is important to invest resources not only in treatment but also in the prevention of psychopathologies and suicide. This can be achieved by adopting common and specific psychological interventions to support coping in the general population. In this study, we adopted the Safety Plan Intervention (SPI); an evidence-based intervention from the cognitive behavioral therapy for suicide prevention (CBT-SP) and adapted it for use by the general population as the Resilience Plan Intervention. Resilience Plan helps in facing emotional distress by empowering a person's emotional, cognitive, and interpersonal competencies. The aim is to disseminate the principles of the Resilience Plan to the general population and to increase their self-efficacy to cope and help others when experiencing emotional distress. In the present study, participants undergo training, and Virtual Reality Resilience Plan
experience building a Resilience Plan via dynamic conversation in VR simulation with an avatar who is in distress. In the simulation, participants build with the avatar a resilience plan catered to their needs. We hypothesize that the use of Resilience Plan Intervention in the general population will be feasible, acceptable, helpful, and can have a positive effect on individuals by enhancing their self-efficacy to cope and help others when experiencing emotional distress.

For more information, please contact Tal Nakash talnakash94@gmail.com

Suicidal behaviors are a significant public health concern and are currently rising due to COVID-19. Evidence-based interventions for suicide prevention are highly effective. Unfortunately, many mental health professionals feel diminished self-efficacy to implement these interventions due to insufficient training. In this study, we address the gap in training mental health professionals in suicide prevention interventions by designing and testing a novel and brief training program. The study focuses on virtual reality simulation to train mental health professionals in an evidence-based suicide prevention intervention - Safety Planning Intervention (SPI). The study includes comparisons of VR simulation with a virtual patient versus role-play with a research assistant. Both conditions will teach how to compose a safety planning intervention with a patient and will practice a full session of the intervention in a role-play. We hypothesize that in a brief, one-hour session, (1) the therapist’s self-efficacy can be enhanced significantly and that (2) the intervention will be found acceptable and feasible as much as traditional role-play.

For more information please contact Tom Haller haller92@gmail.com

Hadas Erel, Oren Zuckerman, Mario Mikulincer and a team of students studied the effect a simple non-humanoid social robot has on two friends engaged in a discussion that involves social support/psychological caregiving. The controlled study revealed that even minimal movement of the robot, directed at the right timing towards the care-seeking human, can influence the behavior of the care-giving human, and implicitly empowered him/her to provide more social support to their peers.

For more information, please contact Hadas Erel: hadas.erel@milab.idc.ac.il

This project will develop a personalized digital diagnostics tool for adolescents' imminent suicidal ideation and behaviors. We will capitalize on smartphone and Big Data technologies to capture the underlying affective and behavioral disturbances leading to suicidal crises. The project's groundbreaking objectives integrate multiple risk factors for suicidal ideation and behaviors, including passive monitoring of objective smartphone usage and behavioral features, active real-time assessments of subjective psychological self-reports, and clinical evaluations. Using an innovative smartphone app designed for this study, iFeel, and developing predictive algorithms using machine learning, study results may ultimately provide the invaluable capacity to alert youth and caregivers in real-time, empowering self-help and promoting life-saving strategies.
The project is a collaborative work carried out by the Depression Clinic at Schneider's Children Medical Center, the Community Mental Health Department at the University of Haifa, inManage Software Company, and Baruch Ivcher School of Psychology, and the Data Science Institute at Reichman University.
:For more information, please contact Shira Barzilay shirabarzilay@gmail.com

A team of T.M.H researchers led by Prof. Yair Amichay Hamburger published a pioneering paper in 2014 about “The Future of Online Therapy”. The paper discusses the criticisms against online therapy, the advantages of online therapy, and the unique aspects of the online approach. The paper proposes that online therapy should exploit other online resources, including online techniques for information gathering, both in the therapeutic session and outside of it. In addition, the paper suggests that therapists incorporate online role-play, online CBT and intervention techniques using the smartphone. All of these tools are suggested as important components in a process of comprehensive therapy run by a therapist working online.

:For more information, please contact Yair Amichay Hamburger yairah@idc.ac.il