SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR SCREENING, TREATING, AND MONITORING PSYCHOLOGICAL CONDITIONS

• US 20110118555A1
• Filed: 04/29/2010
• Published: 05/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Abhijit Dhumne, Hans Kristofer Breville
• Original Assignee: Abhijit Dhumne, Hans Kristofer Breville
• Inventors: Breville, Hans Kristofer, Dhumne, Abhijit
• Application Number:
  US12/770,375
• Publication Number:
  US 20110118555A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/16 Devices for psychotechnics using teaching or educational appliances G09B1/00 - G09B7/00; Testing reaction times ; Devices for evaluating the psychological state
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/165 Evaluating the state of mind, e.g. depression, anxiety
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0027 by the hearing sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0044 by the sight sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 21/00 Other devices or methods to cause a change in the state of consciousness; Devices for producing or ending sleep by mechanical, optical, or acoustical means, e.g. for hypnosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 21/02 for inducing sleep or relaxation, e.g. by direct nerve stimulation, hypnosis, analgesia for massage A61H; electrotherapy A61N, e.g. applying alternating or intermittent electric currents for producing anaesthesia A61N1/36021
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3553 remote, e.g. between patient's home and doctor's office
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3584 using modem, internet or bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/70 relating to mental therapies, e.g. psychological therapy or autogenous training
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A system for and method of remote monitoring, screening, assessment and treatment of patients having a mental health illness such as post-traumatic stress disorders or other traumatic stress injury and co-occurring symptomatology. Patients in constant communication with one or more healthcare professionals through a wireless network, complete executable programs on their patient handheld electronic devices and transmit the results of the executable programs to their supervising mental health professional. The mental health professionals review and analyze the collected patient data to make clinical assessments of the patients'"'"' mental health status.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented system for monitoring post-traumatic stress disorder in a patient in need, comprising:

an electronic, portable patient device having at least an input mechanism to enter patient information, a display to review the patient information and communication apparatus; and

a computer-implemented processor accessible by one or more mental health professionals and located remote from the patient device, the computer-implemented processor configured to transmit one or more executable programs in a patient clinical module to the patient device to receive executed programs from the patient,

wherein the patient clinical modules provide therapies for mental health care for post-traumatic stress disorder or symptoms thereof, selected from the group comprising;

a therapy module to monitor and detect a post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms;

an informational module to deliver educational material about post-traumatic stress disorder; and

wherein the system distributes one or more of these modules to the patient device and can connect patients to health care providers.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the patient is an adult associated with the military.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the patient'"'"'s post-traumatic stress disorder corresponds to a military-related exposure.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the patient clinical module is transmitted from the computer-implemented processor to the patient device through the communication apparatus.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein contents of the patient clinical module is customized to each patient device.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the patient clinical module is installed through a removable memory.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein herein the communication means is wireless.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication apparatus of patient device comprises an alert function to alert the healthcare worker of symptoms exceeding predetermined threshold levels corresponding to post-traumatic stress disorder.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer-implemented processor communicates with one or more military databases with patient information.

10. The system of claim 1, the computer-implemented processor communicates with a third-party associated with patient mental healthcare through a communication network, wherein the computer-implemented processor comprises an alert function to electronically alert a first responder party through the communication network when the patient exceeds at least one predetermined threshold diagnostic measurement level corresponding to post-traumatic stress disorder or is deemed by the mental health professional to be having a mental health emergency.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the handheld device further comprises a security mechanism, wherein patient information cannot be accessed upon activation of the security mechanism.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein a monitoring program comprises:

a self-report module, wherein a patient inputs information relating to the patient'"'"'s emotional and mental health status;

a skills building program having at least one breathing techniques program; and

a cognitive behavioral therapy, wherein the cognitive behavioral therapy includes an inquiry regarding an exposure related to one or more symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.

wherein modules made available as patient'"'"'s health status changes.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the patient device displays each program of the patient clinical module as a component corresponding to the patient'"'"'s o mental health therapy.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer-implemented device is connectable to at least 2 patient devices simultaneously.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer-implemented device is connectable to at least 5 patient devices simultaneously.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer-implemented device is connectable to at least 10 patient devices simultaneously.

17. A method for treating post-traumatic stress disorder in a patient in need, comprising:

providing a patient device to the patient to collect patient information regarding post-traumatic stress disorder;

providing a post-traumatic stress disorder screening functionality on the handheld device, wherein the screening functionality is configured with threshold clinical and diagnostic values to determine a degree of post-traumatic disorder symptoms;

receiving collected patient information through a communication network on at least one computer-implemented processor accessible by a mental health professional;

processing the patient information to determine the clinical degree of post-traumatic stress disorder; and

optionally alerting a first responder if one or more predetermined threshold clinical values are exceeded by the patient.

18. The method of facilitating regimen for remotely monitoring post-traumatic stress disorder in a patient, comprising:

providing an entity associated with at least one mental health professional with a system to remotely diagnose and monitor post-traumatic stress syndrome in at least one patient through one ore more computer-executable programs directed to post-traumatic stress disorder, the programs prompting patient interaction from the patient through a communication network connecting a patient device with a central monitoring computer, wherein the patient device and central monitoring computer transmit and receive patient mental health assessment information providing information on the patient'"'"'s mental health

collecting the information at the central monitoring computer as a component of a patient profile for treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder;

assessing the information to determine efficacy and scope of the treatment; and

customizing the treatment by updating one or more computer-executable programs to be addressed by the patient as part of therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder.

19. A post-traumatic stress disorder treatment and monitoring device, comprising:

a patient-controlled electronic device configured to provide one or more patient-directed modules related to post-traumatic stress disorder, the patient-controlled device having at least an input mechanism to input data, a display to view data and a communication apparatus to permit communication through a communication network; and

a screening module configured to identify post-traumatic stress disorder or symptoms thereof and configured to perform an output operation in response to detecting post-traumatic stress disorder or at least one symptom thereof;

a therapy module configured to provide treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder and configured to perform an output operation in response to patient response to therapy;

a communication module configured to receive and transmit patient input and configured to perform an output operation in response to accepting a patient input; and

a skills-building module configured to train patients on coping with post-traumatic stress disorder and configured to perform an output operation in response to patient input.

20. An article of manufacture comprising:

a computer readable medium; and

a data structure stored thereon adapted and configured to route signals, wherein the data structure comprises a computer readable system for treating and monitoring post-traumatic stress disorder in patients in need;

a processing system configured and adapted to communicate with a plurality of computers, wherein the processing system is arranged to accept input of;

one or more an electronic, portable patient devices having at least an input mechanism to input data, a display to view data and communication apparatus; and

a computer-implemented processor accessible by one or more mental health professionals and located remote from the patient device, the computer-implemented processor configured to transmit one or more executable programs in a patient clinical module to the patient device to receive executed programs from the patient,

wherein the patient clinical modules provide therapies for mental health care for post-traumatic stress disorder or symptoms thereof, selected from the group comprising;

a therapy module to monitor and detect a post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms;

an informational module to deliver educational material about post-traumatic stress disorder.