Systems and methods for computer implemented treatment of behavioral disorders

Abstract

A system and method are provided for treating excessive or problematic computer use. In at least one embodiment, a method is employed to treat excessive or problematic computer use by acquiring information about the unwanted user activity, monitoring user activity for the unwanted behavior, controlling the behavior when it occurs, enabling the user to record self-observations and evaluating the results. This method may employ a computer based system to treat excessive or problematic computer use which includes configuring a user activity monitor with constraints, programmatically enforcing those constraints, reporting the activities monitored and restricted, and enabling a user to input self-observations. Potential constraints include a complete bar on the user activity, as well as, progressively decreasing the amount of time the user may engage in the activity, i.e. titrating the user activity.

1 . A system for treating unwanted computer use comprising:
 a controller configured to control a user activity on a computer system according to at least one constraint, the at least one constraint either restricting each instance of the user activity to a titrated duration or causing a user to engage in a cognitive restructuring exercise; and   a memory coupled to the controller and storing the at least one constraint.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one constraint comprises an identifier of the user. 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one constraint comprises at least one constraint received from an external database. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one constraint comprises an identifier of a website to which access is to be constrained. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one constraint comprises an identifier of a software application to which access is to be constrained. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the titrated duration comprises a progressively decreasing duration that decreases by a constant amount of time for each instance of the user activity. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the titrated duration comprises a progressively decreasing duration that decreases by a variable amount of time for each instance of the user activity. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 7 , wherein the titrated duration comprises a progressively decreasing duration that decreases by a random amount of time for each instance of the user activity. 
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an input coupled to the controller and configured to receive at least one motivator to dissuade the user from engaging in the user activity, the at least one motivator associated with at least one user activity;   wherein the controller is further configured to store the at least one motivator in the memory; and   wherein the cognitive restructuring exercise includes providing the user with the at least one motivator when the user attempts to perform the user activity.   
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein the at least one motivator includes at least one motivator individually tailored to the user. 
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to store a record of the user activity in the memory. 
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 11 , further comprising an output coupled to the controller and configured to provide the record of the user activity to an external entity. 
     
     
         13 . The system according  claim 11 , wherein the input is further configured to receive information regarding past user activity;
 wherein the controller is further configured to store the information regarding past user activity in the memory; and   wherein the output is further configured to provide the past user activity compared to the record of the user activity to an external entity.   
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein the input is further configured to receive self-observations from the user,
 wherein the controller is further configured to store the information regarding past user activity in the memory; and   wherein the output is further configured to provide the self-observations to an external entity.   
     
     
         15 . A computer-implemented method for treating unwanted use of a computer comprising:
 receiving at least one constraint identifying a user activity to be constrained and a type of constraint to be imposed on the user activity, the type of constraint including either restricting the user activity to a titrated duration or causing a user to engage in a cognitive restructuring exercise; and   controlling, by the computer, the user activity according to the at least one constraint.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein controlling, by the computer, the user activity comprises storing a record of user activity. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein receiving at least one constraint comprises receiving at least one motivator to dissuade the user from engaging in the user activity. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising identifying the user. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising receiving self-observations from the user. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 receiving past user activity; and   reporting subsequent user activity compared to the past user activity.   
     
     
         21 . A computer readable medium comprising instructions that when executed by a controller, cause the controller to perform a method including:
 receiving at least one constraint identifying a user activity to be constrained and a type of constraint to be imposed on the user activity, the type of constraint including either restricting the user activity to a titrated duration or causing a user to engage in a cognitive restructuring exercise; and   controlling, by the computer, the user activity according to the at least one constraint.