Katherina Martin Abello*, Trimbos Instituut - The Netherlads, Utrecht, Netherlands Track: Practice Presentation Topic: Usability and human factors on the web Presentation Type: DEMO Interactive Session Submission Type: Single Presentation Building: LKSC Conference Center Stanford Room: DEMO Interactive Session Upper Lobby Date: 2011-09-18 12:41 PM – 12:56 PM Last modified: 2011-08-15

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Research indicates that screening instruments are very often difficult to understand for low SES (Socioeconomic Status), children and immigrant groups. Most screening instruments for common mental disorders feature long sentences and difficult wording. Screening instruments for children are usually answered by their parents, people with low SES or illiterates need to be assisted to answer the questions. Assistance with screening questionnaires may affect and alter the quality of the answer, and, moreover, makes the individual dependent. We have developed an easy-to-understand, web-based (audio-)visual screening instrument, called the Visual Screener for Common Mental Disorders (VS-CMD). It screens for symptoms of depression, anxiety, problem drinking and suicidal tendency and is designed for adults with various education and reading levels. The wording of the questions has been simplified, every question has been supported by an equivalent in voice (read me function), in 5 languages and spoken by a man and a woman. The answers are presented with graphic (cartoon) representation or animation. The VS-CMD is currently being validated. This study will cross-validate the VS-CMD with a battery of self-report measures in the general population. If the results of the present study are favorable, the VS-CMD can be utilized in web-based mental health portals, as screening before a web-based intervention, as an application on a tablet or Smartphone, as a research instrument or as a standalone program on a computer at hospitals or care centers. In this interactive presentation the practical opportunities of the VS-CMD are presented and discussed.