Quick links: What's involved · Benefits · How much Time · Who can Participate · Your Rights · How to Apply · Preliminary Timetable 2010

What Is VirtualClinic?

We are an Internet-based clinic that aims to develop and provide free treatment programs to people with anxiety and depressive disorders who cannot readily access face to face treatment. Anxiety and depression are common conditions affecting up to 20% of adults during a 12 month period. However, fewer than 50% of people with anxiety and depression seek treatment, and only about half of those who seek treatment receive adequate treatment. Internet-based education and treatment programs have the potential to help mental health services reach more people with anxiety, depression, and other common disorders. VirtualClinic was previously called ClimateClinic.

We are currently developing and testing the following programs:

• The Wellbeing Program: For people with symptoms of depression and anxiety
• The Anxiety Program: For people with symptoms of any anxiety disorder
• The Sadness Program: For people with depression
• The Panic Program: For people with panic disorder
• The Worry Program: For people with generalized anxiety disorder
• The Shyness Program: For people with social phobia

If you enrol for a program you will become part of a research project that is testing or trying to improve that program. When you enrol you will be asked to complete questionnaires about your symptoms and to tell us your opinions of the program. If your application is successful, you may be registered as a patient of St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, and we may ask you to provide name and contact details for your GP (or for another health professional).

Before applying, read all the information on this website to check that you meet the eligibility criteria. Please also seek a second opinion from a mental health professional or from your GP before applying.

What Is Involved In A VirtualClinic Treatment Program? (Back to Top)

If you are accepted into a program you will be assigned to a Clinical Psychologist or Psychiatrist who will monitor your progress. One of our research team will also contact you to inform you about the specific details of that program, including the starting and finishing dates. Some of the programs involve regular contact with a clinician, while other programs are self-guided, that is, you do the work by yourself. But, each program has a similar structure, and includes the following:

• Online educational lessons. Each lesson tells a story about a person with that condition, who learns to manage their symptoms.
• Homework assignments. These summarise the information in each lesson, and provide practical assignments to help you learn new skills for managing your symptoms.

Each program MAY also include:

• Regular email contact with a Clinical Psychologist or Psychiatrist. Your therapist will email you at least weekly, to answer your questions and encourage you, AND/OR
• An online anonymous discussion forum. The program has its own private forum where you read and submit messages about your homework to your clinician, AND/OR
• Weekly telephone calls to check on your progress.

Each program takes 8 - 10 weeks. You will complete your program along with 10 - 50 other people. Each person will choose their own login name, so that people will not be able to identify you. Please do not choose a username you use for other websites.

What Benefits Are Likely? (Back to Top)

We expect that your program will help reduce your symptoms. However, we cannot guarantee that you will receive any benefits from this program.

If you continue to experience symptoms at the end of your program we will explain how you can arrange a referral to a Clinical Psychologist or Psychiatrist for face to face individual or group treatment. We expect that by having already participated in this program that you will make good progress if you subsequently choose to work with a mental health professional. Or, you may choose to continue to practice the techniques you learnt during your program.

How Much Time/Effort Is Involved? (Back to Top)

Each program requires perseverance, determination, and courage. If you apply we expect that you want to learn about your condition and are prepared to follow structured advice to overcome it. We also expect that you will spend at least 4 hours per week working on the Lessons and homework assignments. The homework assignments are compulsory, because just reading about helpful techniques for managing symptoms won’t fix the problem, particularly because most people have had their symptoms for many years.

Our programs will not cure you overnight, but they can really help. If you follow the guidelines we expect that you will learn the foundations for success and, with consistent practice, you should gain mastery over your symptoms. 

Who Can Participate? (Back to Top)

You must meet criteria for either depression, social phobia, generalized anxiety disorder, or panic disorder to participate in our programs. Also:

• You must be 18 years or older and an Australian resident (this is for legal and ethical reasons).
• You must have access to the Internet, access to a printer (so you can print off the homework), an email account (so we can correspond), and Flash (version 8 or better) on your computer (Flash is the program we use to run the lessons). Please do not apply to join this study until you have completed the simple systems check. You can check to see the version of Flash your computer is running by clicking on the "Technical Requirements" button below, and following the instructions. If you don’t have the right version, you can download the latest version for free.
• You cannot use illicit drugs or consume more than 3 standard drinks per day (because they will affect your symptoms).
• During the course of the program you cannot be receiving nor intend receiving Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) - learning how to change your thoughts, behaviour or emotions.
• If you have a very severe depression or are having thoughts of harming yourself or taking your own life, we believe you require urgent assistance and you will not be able to apply for our programs until your symptoms improve (please click on the "For Urgent Help" link, below, or see a health professional urgently).

Your Rights (Back to Top)

We hope that by participating in a VirtualClinic program that you will learn more about how to control your symptoms. But, you can withdraw from a program at any time, without any penalty. You are also welcome to contact us to ask questions. But, if you have medical questions, you should first see your General Practitioner. If you are unhappy with any aspect of this study you are welcome to contact us (either via our Contact Us button, or by contacting one of the clinicians or the Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) of St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, or the HREC of the University of New South Wales (contact details are supplied in the consent forms we send to you after you have applied).

Your Responsibilities (Back to Top)

We undertake to provide you with the best service that we can and we are dedicated to supporting people to recover from anxiety and depression. But, we are a very small team, and we need your help. So, before applying please ensure you are prepared to accept the following responsibilities (if not, please DO NOT apply):

• You will read our emails very carefully and save these in a secure location.
• When requested, you will complete all questionnaires within 48 hours of receipt.
• When requested, you will complete and return all Consent Forms within 48 hours.
• You have checked to ensure you have a healthy computer and reliable Internet connection, and have checked that you have the necessary software.
• You will only apply if you are really determined to challenge yourself, to change some of your habits, and are prepared to worked consistently at this, every day, for up to 10 weeks.

How Do I Apply To Join A VirtualClinic Program? (Back to Top)

First, read all the information on this website. If we are recruiting you can then click on the "Apply" button (above). You will then be asked to complete questionnaires about your symptoms of anxiety and depression, and to answer some questions about yourself. If your online application is accepted, we will then telephone you to complete your application and answer your questions. We will then email you an Informed Consent Form, which you must complete and return. And, then, you will be able to begin your program!

Preliminary Timetable for 2010 (Back to Top)

Page last updated: 9 February 2010 by Dr Nickolai Titov