Priory healthcare prescribes blues-buster technology

You don't have to be a celeb to afford this treatment...

Priory Healthcare, famed for its treatment of wayward celebs is now trying its hand at technology to treat depressed patients. Developed by the Institute of Psychiatry and interactive healthcare company ultrasis, the 'Beating the Blues' programme is based on cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) thinking. This school of thought argues that mental health problems such as depression can be treated by simply breaking negative thought cycles and teaching patients to change the way they think. Trials have shown that the application can treat people suffering from anxiety and depression more quickly and efficiently. The benefit of delivering therapy in this way is that it can reduce the cost for patients and increase the number of people that can be treated, according to staff at the Priory. Jo Smith, therapy services manager at the Priory, said: "People are often embarrassed and ashamed about seeing a therapist. There have been lots of attempts to put CBT into books and teach self-help techniques. PCs are just a logical progression." The treatment costs £55 a session and comes in a minimum eight-session package.