Can Computerized Virtual Patients Effectively Train Health Care Professionals? A paper published by Greg Reger and Colleagues in JAMA Network Open Addresses this Question.

October 15, 2020

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In this study, VA and DoD providers completed an on-line course on motivational interviewing (MI) and were then randomized to training with a computerized virtual patient or the same amount of time in academic study of MI. After training, professionals interacted with human standardized patients to test their skills. Those randomized to the virtual patient demonstrated significantly greater motivational interviewing skill on three of four MI summary scores.

Ben Buck, Ph.D. gives presentation at the Department of Psychiatry at University of California San Francisco

September 22, 2020

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Dr. Buck was invited as a guest of the Technology in Mental Health Interest Group in the UCSF Department of Psychiatry. His presentation was titled “Mobile Health (mHealth) for Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders: Assessment, Treatment, and Outreach."

R21 awarded to BRiTE Member Trevor Cohen (UW MPI) and Serguei Pakhomov (UMN MPI) for their project entitled: "Computerized assessment of linguistic indicators of lucidity in Alzheimer's Disease dementia”.

September 11, 2020

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Trevor Cohen (UW MPI) and Serguei Pakhomov (UMN MPI) received a Notification of Award for from the National Institute on Aging indicating the award of a $442 K grant to develop novel approaches to quantify the coherence of language produced by patients with Dementia of the Alzheimer’s Type, in order to facilitate the study of fluctuations in lucidity over time that have been observed in this condition. 

Vice News Story on digital mental health features BRiTE Center Director Dror Ben-Zeev, PhD

September 17, 2020

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Technology Therapy Rather than the Couch by Pierre Longeray (translated from French) 

While COVID-19 and confinement have complicated access to therapists, some are trying to take the technological leap by offering sessions by SMS or even video games. 

Congrats to Oleg Zaslavsky and Colleagues for publishing "Reactions to COVID-19, Information and Technology Use, and Social Connectedness among Older Adults with Pre-Frailty and Frailty"

August 10th, 2020

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In the study researchers performed analyses of online discussion data generated by very old person with frailty while subject to WA state stay-at-home order. The study showed that participants of average age 75 and older experienced negative emotional consequences including stress, worry, and anxiety, but information and technology use kept participants informed and connected. The researchers provided several practical suggestions into ways to support vulnerable older adults in pandemic circumstances.

Ben Buck, PhD, received NIH Loan Repayment Program Award from NIMH

August 7th, 2020

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Dr. Buck was awarded a 2 year contract from the NIH Loan Repayment Program from NIMH to support his continued work on his research program, "mHealth for Engagement: Developing scalable, remotely delivered mHealth to reduce duration of untreated psychosis."

BRiTE Center Investigator Kevin Hallgren, PhD, co-developing NIDA-funded addiction research training program for UW medical students.

August 6th, 2020

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The UW MedStAR program will pair UW medical students with addiction researchers across the UW system. Students will engaged with immersive, hands on experiences in addiction medicine research. Up to 8 students will be matched per year with faculty members. 

The University of Virginia's Center for Behavioral health and Technology invites Dror Ben-Zeev, PhD, to deliver a talk at their Seminar Series.

August 3rd, 2020

Dror Ben-Zeev, PhD, attends "Connecting Against Loneliness", a round table discussion hosted by the Aspen Institute and Facebook.

July 23th, 2020

Congrats to BRiTE researchers Dror Ben-Zeev, Ben Buck, Suzanne Meller, and Kevin Hallgren for their recent publication “Augmenting Evidence-Based Care With a Texting Mobile Interventionist: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial”, published in Psychiatric Services.

Published July 7th, 2020

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Dror Ben-Zeev, PhD, gives speaker series talk at the Early Psychosis Intervention Center (EPICENTER) at The Ohio State University. 

June 19, 2020

BRiTE Center welcomes ​Justin Tauscher, PhD as new 

postdoctoral research team member

June 15, 2020:​

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Welcome to Justin Tauscher who recently joined the BRiTE Center as a postdoctoral fellow and mobile mental health support specialist. Justin completed his doctoral study at the University of Florida where he also earned a master’s degree in biomedical informatics and graduate certificate in implementation science. He brings an extensive clinical background having served as a clinical supervisor and dually license mental health/addiction counselor previous to his doctoral study and will be a valued member of the team!

Dror Ben- Zeev, PhD, joins Behavioral Health Institute Telehealth Rapid Response 

(BHI-TRR) - Strategic Oversight Committee

May 5, 2020:​

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The BHI Telehealth Rapid Response group was convened to provide statewide coordination and mobilization in partnership with providers, HCA/DBHR, MCOs, ACHs, UW and others to respond to the need for rapid behavioral health telehealth deployment, training and technical assistance. The group will develop a long-term proposal related to digital health more broadly but is focusing immediate attention on supporting access to care, equipment, technical assistance, billing, and staff/client training during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BRiTE Staff Member Suzanne Meller, MPH, MSW, LSWAIC, leading project examining COVID-19 response

Apr. 20, 2020

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Congratulations to Suzanne Meller for receiving an award from the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. She will serve as PI for "Attitudes, readiness, and adoption of digital health in community mental health centers during the COVID-19 Pandemic. 

BRiTE Faculty Member Benjamin Buck, PhD, receives 

NIMH Career Development Award (K23MH122504)

Apr. 15, 2020

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Congratulations to Benjamin Buck for receiving Notice of Award for a 5 Year K23 from NIMH. His Project is entitled, "User centered design of mobile health interventions to promote help-seeking and reduce duration of untreated illness among young adults with early psychosis.  

Microsoft awards grant to BRiTE Center Affiliate Tim Althoff, PhD to study natural language processing

Apr. 14, 2020

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Congratulations to Tim Althoff for receiving an 'AL for Accessibility' grant from Microsoft to develop natural language processing models for empathic-communications in text-based mental health support.