The critical months after discharge.
Depressive disorders are serious conditions and case numbers keep rising. The first six months after discharge from inpatient treatment are especially critical — relapses are a real risk, and inadequate outpatient aftercare can undo the therapeutic progress achieved in the clinic.
Existing technology-based self-help approaches — from web-based psychoeducation to computer-assisted behavioural therapy — often neglect one central aspect: the patient's need for a social, empathetic relationship.
An empathetic avatar as an anchor.
UBIDENZ relies on a socio-empathic assistance system with an understanding avatar as the central interaction interface. This creates a therapeutic relationship with a genuine incentive to keep using the system — increasing adherence to outpatient pharmacological and psychological therapy.
The virtual avatar acts as an adaptive transitional object out of the regressive state caused by depression and enables automated, accompanying monitoring of the outpatient aftercare process.
Interactive avatar technology in the consortium.
In this BMBF-funded consortium project, Charamel contributes the interactive avatar technology — together with Better-At-Home, DFKI, ki:elements, the University of Augsburg and Oldenburg University Hospital.