Ultrasis US Joint Venture Success

Ultrasis Plc

("Ultrasis" or the "Company")

Major 'regulatory' success for Ultrasis US joint venture

Ultrasis is pleased to announce that Beating the Blues is now included in the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices (NREPP).

SAMHSA have stated that "Computer-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Beating the Blues has met NREPP's minimum requirements for review and has been independently assessed and rated for Quality of Research and Readiness for Dissemination."

Sharon Hicks, Board member of U Squared Interactive and lead on achieving this recognition said "The independent recognition by SAMHSA is a major milestone for U Squared Interactive. Beating the Blues US is the only computerized CBT program to achieve this and proves that our evidence base sets us apart from all other products in the market."

She added "There are a number of Internet based programs that call themselves CBT but that don't have the wealth of research behind them to prove their outcomes in relation to face-to face CBT. This designation shows users of Beating the Blues that our product is as effective as face to face CBT. The ability to provide evidence based CBT via the web means that users can be confident that completing Beating the Blues will give them the same, or better, results than CBT with a clinician, effectively doing away with a major barrier to getting the care that they need." 

John Smith, Chief Executive at Ultrasis said "This is a fantastic achievement for U Squared Interactive and for Ultrasis. Inclusion on the NREPP is a significant step forward in getting Beating the Blues acknowledged as a mainstream treatment in the US. Sharon Hicks has led the team on this submission, the outcome of which will undoubtedly lead to new sales opportunities in the US." He added "Beating the Blues is now well positioned to become the premier online CBT program in the United States". 

The full NREPP release can be found at: http://nrepp.samhsa.gov/ViewIntervention.aspx?id=318.

About SAMHSA

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation. SAMHSA's mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America's communities.

Congress established the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in 1992 to make substance use and mental disorder information, services, and research more accessible. SAMHSA is a public agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Last year alone, an estimated 10.6 million people reported an unmet need for mental health care. The gap in service to this population unnecessarily jeopardizes the health and wellness of people and causes a ripple effect in costs to American communities.

About NREPP

The National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices (NREPP) is a searchable online database of mental health and substance abuse interventions. All interventions in the registry have met NREPP's minimum requirements for review and have been independently assessed and rated for Quality of Research and Readiness for Dissemination.

The purpose of NREPP is to help the public learn more about available evidence-based programs and practices and determine which of these may best meet their needs. NREPP is one way that SAMHSA is working to improve access to information on evaluated interventions and reduce the lag time between the creation of scientific knowledge and its practical application in the field.

About Ultrasis

Ultrasis is a healthcare company with core expertise in health, psychology, software development and programme management. We deliver computerised healthcare products to the consumer, the NHS, the corporate sector and other healthcare providers in the UK and US.

Ultrasis was the first company to offer computerised products based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and interactive multimedia, and is still the world leader in this field. The products help people tackle stress, anxiety and depression, and a full spectrum of related chronic conditions.

About U2 Interactive

U Squared Interactive's ("U2") mission is to support all healthcare stakeholder communities in creating innovative and cost effective computer based solutions for everyday health problems, lifestyle issues, and long-term conditions. U2 believes in delivering evidenced based treatment via interactive and easy to use software programs that will revolutionize how healthcare consumers achieve holistic wellness. 

U2 is a joint venture between UPMC Insurance Services Division and Ultrasis Plc.