BreakingPatterns inMental HealthCare

Patterns of Life is a research project initiated by the Parnassia Group and Redesigning Psychiatry. The objective of this project is to enhance the diagnosis of mental health issues, aligning it more closely with clients' needs and the treatment choices that must be made during intake. Additionally, the project aims to make better predictions about the course of mental health issues. The research team developed a new form of intake using a blended care application named Polly. Label A then collaborated to build this app, providing clients with insights into the patterns in which they find themselves stuck. This application is currently undergoing a pilot study at PsyQ.

We all encounter obstacles in our lives from time to time. When facing such challenges, it's often not possible to pinpoint a single cause; multiple factors influence and perpetuate the problem. Sometimes, a pattern can be so persistent that individuals, on their own or with the support of loved ones, cannot break free from it. In such cases, it's beneficial to work with a professional to unravel the pattern and understand what is needed to overcome it.

This paradigm inspired the development of Patterns of Life: a research project exploring new forms of co-creation between clients and healthcare professionals, focusing on diagnosis and prognosis. The Parnassia Group, Redesigning Psychiatry and Label A designed a new intake process combined with an application for this purpose. In this new design, clients are assisted in preparing and sharing their stories with healthcare professionals and they begin to unravel the patterns causing their challenges. This allows clients to gain insights early on and share them with their treatment providers, empowering them to have more control over their situation. The healthcare professional also gains a better understanding of the client, facilitating improved treatment choices. Additionally, the application includes a comprehensive questionnaire to collect data for researching transdiagnostic patterns.