HEIDELBERG AFTERCARE PROGRAM FOR SCHIZOPHRENIA (HEINS)

Contact: Dr. Christina Gallinat (christina.gallinat(at)med.uni-heidelberg.de)

Project period: 2014-2018

Projekt description

HEINS is a mobile phone and Internet-based aftercare program for people with schizophrenia who have completed inpatient treatment. The program was developed jointly by working groups from the Clinic for General Psychiatry and the Center for Psychotherapy Research at the University Hospital Heidelberg.

The main goal of the project is to improve psychosocial care by helping patients to recognize possible signs of deterioration in their symptoms at an early stage and to receive professional help promptly if needed.

HEINS consists of the following modules:

1. Monitoring and feedback system: Participants answer short questions about their well-being, sleep patterns, and medication regimen, among other things on a weekly basis. Immediately afterwards, they receive automated resource-oriented feedback that relates to the content of their statements.
2. Psychoeducation: Providing information about psychosis and schizophrenia to improve illness-related knowledge, subjective processing of illness events, and to strengthen active coping with illness.
3. Chat and telephone contacts: Offering personal counseling via chat or telephone by a clinician from the Clinic for General Psychiatry.
4. Crisis plan:  Individual list of strategies to follow in the event of a crisis, as well as contact information for key contacts.

In this project phase, the focus is on investigating the feasibility and acceptance of the online intervention (proof-of-concept). In addition, the recorded symptom changes in comparison to a control group should enable an effect estimate, which will serve the planning of a subsequent efficacy study.

Cooperation partner

Clinic for General Psychiatry
Medical Director: Prof. Dr. Sabine C. Herpertz
Responsible doctor:
Sandra K. Apondo
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