Abstract: A computer-implemented method comprising: obtaining text from text-based messages sent between a patient and a therapist providing psychological therapy; determining at least one feature of the text; and determining a characteristic of the patient and/or the therapist using the at least one feature.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method may comprise obtaining text from text-based instant messages sent between a patient and a therapist providing psychological therapy to treat a depression and/or anxiety disorder, wherein the patient is remotely situated relative to the therapist during sending of the text-based instant messages; determining at least one feature of the text by, at least, applying a text mining/analytics process to the text from the text-based instant messages; converting the at least one feature into a characteristic of the patient and/or the therapist, wherein the characteristic relates to a predicted outcome of therapy, a risky behavior by the patient, predicted drop-out by the patient, and/or a performance of the therapist; and transmitting the characteristic to the therapist and/or a supervisor of the therapist.

Abstract: Apparatus for use in a computer-based system for providing psychological therapy, the apparatus comprising: an access system configured to control access to features and data by users of remote devices, wherein the users comprise patients, therapists and supervisors; and a therapy system configured to enable text-based instant messages to be sent between patients and therapists; wherein the access system is configured to allow patients to retrieve messages sent and received by the patient, therapists to retrieve messages sent and received by the therapist, and supervisors to retrieve messages sent and received by particular patients and/or therapists.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method comprising: obtaining text from text-based messages sent between a patient and a therapist providing psychological therapy; determining at least one feature of the text; and determining a characteristic of the patient and/or the therapist using the at least one feature.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method comprising: obtaining text from text-based messages sent between a patient and a therapist providing psychological therapy; determining at least one feature of the text; and determining a characteristic of the patient and/or the therapist using the at least one feature.

Abstract: A method of determining the effectiveness of a therapist, comprising: obtaining data relating to one or more patient variables and/or one or more service variables for one or more patient suffering from a mental health disorder and allocated to the therapist; attributing a score to the data for each of the patient variables and/or the service variables, wherein the scores are based on a correlation between historic cohort treatment outcomes and historic cohort data comprising cohort patient and/or service variables; combining the scores to calculate an aggregate score; comparing the aggregate score with a scale to produce a prediction of psychological therapy outcome for the one or more patient; obtaining an observation of psychological therapy outcome for the one or more patient after treatment by the therapist has been provided; and comparing the observation of psychological therapy outcome and the prediction of psychological therapy outcome for the one or more patient to make a determination of the effecti

Abstract: Apparatus for use in a computer-based system for providing psychological therapy, the apparatus comprising: an access system configured to control access to features and data by users of remote devices, wherein the users comprise patients, therapists and supervisors; and a therapy system configured to enable text-based instant messages to be sent between patients and therapists; wherein the access system is configured to allow patients to retrieve messages sent and received by the patient, therapists to retrieve messages sent and received by the therapist, and supervisors to retrieve messages sent and received by particular patients and/or therapists.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method comprising: obtaining text from text-based messages sent between a patient and a therapist providing psychological therapy; determining at least one feature of the text; and determining a characteristic of the patient and/or the therapist using the at least one feature.