Interactive Environment based on Internet Technologies for Psychometric Diagnostics, Psychotherapy and Collaboration

Author: Velibor Ili�(1), ilicv@EUnet.rs, http://solair.EUnet.rs/~ilicv/ (1) University of Novi Sad, Serbia

Abstract Interactive environment described in this paper contains several tools and subsystems specialized for diagnostics, therapy and communication between persons interested in evaluating their cognitive capabilities (patients) and field experts (psychologists/therapists). According to functionality, components of the system can be divided into several categories: diagnostic cognitive functions, collecting and storing information about users, data analysis, and communication, interaction and collaboration between users.

1. Introduction Development of telecommunication and computer

infrastructure enables process of migration from classic communication and collaboration to a new form of electronic communication using different Internet services[1]. The traditional model of communication in psychotherapy, where therapist directly communicates with patients, can be replaced with model where appropriate software is engaged in communication between therapist and patients[2].

Content management systems represent online tools in web environment that enables publication, modification, control, interaction and organization of different contents (text, images, animation, audio and video files, and other digital information)[3]. Software for collaboration enables users to work together on the same project and to avoid space and time limitations. Using software for collaboration, users can gather in virtual teams and virtual community[4].

Collecting large amount of various data in modern information systems creates need for software that can efficiently retrieve and select information when they are needed[5]. Structure, format and meaning of these data are diverse, and usually they can not be mathematically modeled. That’s why analysis using standard methods is complex or sometimes impossible.

Systems for intelligent data analysis (data mining, knowledge discovery in databases) represent software tools capable to analyze content of large databases and to find relations between data[6].

2. Information technologies in psychometric, psychotherapy and communication

Modern psychology uses inf. technologies

intensively for diagnostic, psychotherapy, collaboration and communication. Patients that need a psychological treatment often delay the necessary therapy. Reasons for delaying of the treatment can be: shyness/inconvenience, shortage of time, long distance from place where they can receive suitable treatment. Possibility to approach the information and services from users own environment disables barriers that can occur in some patients. Treatments based on computers and Internet can offer solution for solving problems in such cases. The feeling of safety can be achieved faster in groups that are formed on online system, and it helps members of groups to feel safe and to explore their problematic feelings from distance[2]. Technology in psychotherapy can be applied as Internet sites for self-help, computer guided therapy, applying palmtop and laptop in the therapy, therapy using virtual reality, interactive systems with voice messages and biofeedback using psychological exam under ambulant conditions[7].

Using computers in psychological testing, allows easier collecting large amounts of data about patients. These data can be used for diagnostics or research. Computer version of the tests directly stores data in databases and automatically processes data, which eliminates costs and errors that can appear during analyzing results of paper version of tests[8]. Applying computerized adaptive testing (CAT) can provide interaction with users in a real time and generates optimal tests for individual user[9].

2008 IEEE/WIC/ACM International Conference on Web Intelligence and Intelligent Agent Technology

978-0-7695-3496-1/08 $25.00 © 2008 IEEE

DOI 10.1109/WIIAT.2008.120

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2008 IEEE/WIC/ACM International Conference on Web Intelligence and Intelligent Agent Technology

978-0-7695-3496-1/08 $25.00 © 2008 IEEE

DOI 10.1109/WIIAT.2008.120

248

Analysis of diagnostic tests results can be automated by using expert systems, classifying users according to their test results on defined categories. Expert system for evaluation of test results and users profiles, should be considered as a tool that helps psychologists in work, but not as solution that completely avoids psychologists[10].

Problems such as non representative population, inability to control diagnostic’s condition, possibility that one user performs the same test several times, maliciously and careless performing the tests can appear in computer version of test procedure[11]. Those problems can be avoided by integration of tests in interactive environment for psychological diagnostics, supervising process of testing by field experts (when is necessary), classifying users on several groups or categories with different privileges and access rights.

Information technologies in psychotherapy can be used for therapeutic training, computer evaluation, supervising the clients, electronic contact and treatment[12]. Information technologies in psychotherapy can bring improvement in area of communication, information delivery and improvement in study[13]. Programs for self–help can be presented on web pages, and treatment is performed by e-mail through structural interview and user’s interactions with therapist[14]. Treatments performed on Internet, in some cases, can be as efficient as treatments performed by therapist[15].

3. Interactive environment for psychometric diagnostic

Interactive environment for psychometric diagnostic

contains several subsystems. Central part of the system is developed as combination of content management systems (CMS) and computer supported cooperative work (CSCW) and it links and arranges functions of all other subsystems. Base difference between usual systems for content management (CMS) and web environment for psychometric diagnostic is that this system contains several subsystems and tools that are adapted for psychologist’s work. In this environment content represents: information about users, test results, diagnostic test and training programs. Psychologists can simply compose lists with selected diagnostic tests (batteries) and have possibility to supervise testing, control over tests and test process. Web environment (figure 1) contains integrated online tools that enable processing, visualization and interpretation of psychometric data.

Environment can be used on several ways considering relation patient-environment-psychologists (therapist), patient can use system alone (or with minimal interaction with psychologist), patient and psychologist can use available tools and use environment for communication (synchronous or asynchronous) and psychologists can use tools from environment as additional tool in classic diagnostics and therapy.

Figure 1 – Interactive environment for psychometric

diagnostics According to functionality, components of the

system can be divided into several categories: diagnostic cognitive functions, collecting information about users, data analysis, and communication, interaction and collaboration between users.

4. Collecting information about users

Subsystem for collecting information about users is

activated when user visits environment for psychological diagnostics for the first time. Subsystem contains several questioners for collecting demographics, medical and psychological data about users. User’s answers are stored in database. The user’s psychological profile is created on basis of this information.

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5. Diagnostic cognitive functions

Multimedial diagnostic tests are used for evaluation user’s cognitive capabilities such as attention and working memory. The tests are similar to simple computer games, users have to solve given task, while reactions are monitored in the background. Using this kind of tests it can be possible to perform testing patients on distance. For example, the user has to detect meaningful patterns in a noisy background. The success in such a task depends crucially on the capability to suppress noisy stimuli by increasing inhibition levels.

Environment enables users to determine the speed of testing on their own, for example how many of tests they are going to perform daily. Several tests contain more levels of difficulties and they are changing dynamically during the testing. Tests can dynamically adapt to user capabilities. User begins with easiest level, and when it is established that user can successfully perform tests on this level, he proceeds on next level that is more difficult. Based on achieved results, environment can suggest users to redo the same test, to go to the next level, to provide additionally information about the area of tests that have been performed (link to page with information in area of performed testing) or to offer suitable training program.

According achieved results, the environment recommends training programs for users to practice and enhance their cognitive capabilities in areas with weaker test results. Training programs are developed like computer games as diagnostic tests. Their goal is to provide users to practice their perceptive capabilities in fields of visual and auditory processing (discrimination, segmenting, perceptual span and multi-sensory integration) and cognitive capabilities (short-term and working memory, sustained, divided and selective attention, concentration span and the ability to focus, de-focus and re-focus). Advantage of implementation of psychometrics tests in environment like this one is possibility for user to get reports with results immediately after finishing the testing. This enables patients to get quick feedback information about achieved results.

Subsystem for interpretation and visualization of results generates the reports based on information from a database (table about users and table with test results). Reports with test results are generated with multiple detail levels. Using this subsystem, users can visually compare their own results with results of other users.

Subsystem for display user’s cognitive profile generates report with overview of all achieved results in diagnostic tests. Based on this report, users can get comparative view of advantages and weaknesses of their own cognitive capabilities.

6. Data analysis

Subsystem for intelligent data analysis is used by

psychologist for finding the correlation between user’s data (demographic, medical and psychological data) and results obtained from diagnostic testing. Metadata are assigned to provide additional information about data for analysis and to perform easier managing results of testing. Psychologist supervises the testing and he can write complains about the testing in metadata if he notices some irregularities during the testing. Integration of data mining in environment for psychometric diagnostic simplifies procedure for analyzing of collected data and reduces time for processing results. Data mining allows processing the large amount of data and reports about potentially interesting information.

7. Communication, interaction and collaboration between users

For communication and interaction, users can use

software tools and technologies such as e-mail, audio/video conferences, chat or instant messages, sharing applications, wiki, web forums, web calendar or application for sharing desktop. Forum enables users to ask questions for psychologists or other users. They can discus about available topics, but also they can start the new ones.

Web calendar enables planning and synchronization of personal, groups and corporative activities. Basic functions of the web calendar are: planning personal activities, synchronization activities with other users of system, reservation of recourses, evident of previous activities. Web calendar enables users to write notes systematically about therapy progress, using training programs and write other symptoms that are necessary for psychologists for precise diagnosis and therapy.

Subsystem for notification turns user’s attention on news, happenings and system updates. Massages can be divided into two categories, i.e. massages that are generated automatically by system (that some new users are registered, or that some of users have done all the tests etc.) or users can send messages to other one (to one user or to group of users).

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Help subsystem informs users how to use available part of system. The simplest way of help represents hierarchical organized documentation.

Beside textual documentation there are multimedial contents such as audio and/or video records. User can ask for live help from administrator/psychologist if they are online. Communication between users and competent stuff can be done using e-mail, instant massages (chat), VoIP, video conferencing over Internet or conversation over telephone. Page with contact list contains list of psychological institution and information about users which can be contacted.

8. Conclusion

Environment for psychometric diagnostic and

psychotherapy represents a place for gathering different categories of users, which could use long distance diagnostic of cognitive abilities. Beside tools for diagnostics and therapy, environment enables methods for communication and interaction of persons interested for evaluation their cognitive capabilities (patients) and field experts (psychologists/therapists). This kind of interactive web environment enables:

� diagnostic cognitive abilities using multimedial tests,

� managing and control over testing (individual users and group of users),

� collecting information about patients (making patient’s profile),

� storing and analysis data about users and tests results,

� interpretation, visualization and comparing test results,

� cognitive map based on achieved results, � training programs (therapy), � communication between patients and

psychologist, � platform for collaborative work.

For psychologist, environment enables: control over testing procedure and monitoring progress of therapy, simultaneously testing of large groups of users, Information from cognitive profile of patients can be used for determination individual and problem orientated therapy. For patients interested in evaluation of their cognitive capabilities, environment enables easy access to diagnostic tests and quick evaluation of cognitive capabilities with technology that they have at home. Patients can identify their advantages and weaknesses by visualization achieved results on the cognitive map.

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