An automated treatment for jet lag delivered through the internet

Psychiatr Serv. 2003 Mar;54(3):394-6. doi: 10.1176/appi.ps.54.3.394.

Abstract

Seventy percent of persons who suffer from psychiatric illness do not receive treatment. Cost-effective, automated treatment can be delivered through the Internet but can be complicated by the lack of professional supervision. This open study piloted a fully automated, publicly available treatment for jet lag as a means of highlighting some of the issues involved in delivering treatment over the Internet. Twenty study participants rated the severity of their jet lag symptoms and their adherence to a light-exposure schedule calculated to accelerate adaptation to a new time zone. A significant negative correlation was observed between how closely participants followed the light-exposure schedules and the severity of their jet lag symptoms.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Physiological
  • Adaptation, Psychological
  • Circadian Rhythm / physiology
  • Delivery of Health Care / methods*
  • Education, Distance
  • Electronic Data Processing
  • Health Services Research
  • Humans
  • Internet / statistics & numerical data*
  • Jet Lag Syndrome / classification
  • Jet Lag Syndrome / physiopathology
  • Jet Lag Syndrome / therapy*
  • Patient Compliance*
  • Patient Education as Topic / methods*
  • Phototherapy / statistics & numerical data*
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Travel
  • United States