Treatment

Technology has had a major impact on the advancing world of mental health treatment. The traditional face-to-face therapy session is often time-consuming and uncomfortable. In some areas, there is no in-person therapy available. Technology offers alternative options that put a premium on client convenience. Digital technology, in the form of websites, mobile apps, and telemedicine, are the future of psychotherapy. Revolutionary mental health assessment tools like Clinicom are setting new standards in how treament is advancing in mental health.

 

Telemedicine

If the expansion of companies that offer treatment (e.g., Betterhelp and Talkspace) is any indication, the popularity of teletherapy is growing. The name “tele” is a bit of a misnomer, as teletherapy can be done through video and text messaging as well as on the telephone. Video conferencing is quite similar to face-to-face treatment except it is online, such as Zoom, Skype Video calls or Facetime. Sessions that rely on phone calls and texting seem to provide a different experience; body language, tone, and nuance are regularly lost when you are not able to see or hear your therapist. However, the ease of receiving services, especially in underserved communities, may be greater than the disadvantages. Although much more research is needed, some case studies have concluded that teletherapy is just as effective as more traditional therapy.

 

Websites and Apps

There’s an explosion of internet-related psychotherapeutic treatment. Much of this is accessible through websites and apps. Even though some software applications are basically conduits to teletherapy services, many are hybrids that offer education, self-help, and online support when needed. The bulk of online based therapy uses cognitive-behavioral principles. As a whole, internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy has exhibited positive results for a variety of psychological disorders, including ADHD, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Mental health apps are unregulated, however, so users should certainly proceed with caution when in search of assistance.

Improved Self-Report

Many self-report options, which are still the majority of psychological research and assessments, can be taken easily on a laptop or computer, as opposed to with pen and paper. This reduces costs and is generally more convenient, except in older populations who will not be as familiar with computer systems. This makes data analysis easier; data compiled on a computer can be quickly reconstructed as computer statistical analysis. For instance, many assessment instruments (e.g., the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory and Beck Depression Inventory) automatically tabulate and interpret data immediately after it is entered.

 

Increasing Convenience

Cell phones and wearables (e.g., smartwatches, fitness trackers), help it become easy to compile information as it takes place, rather than rely on a later self-report. Human memory is fallible and the quicker the details are entered the more likely it is accurate. Some software routinely enters information, such as programs measuring exercise and sleep habits. Other information still has to be entered manually (e.g., a food log) but could be done far more quickly and conveniently on a phone you carry with you regularly. Technology also allows researchers to perform measurements in natural settings instead of being restricted to the lab. For example, neuroscientist Melina Uncapher of the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) uses computer software on an iPad to cognitively assess the thinking processes of elementary school students inside their school rooms.

 

New Instruments

Technology has unveiled new ways to gather data, some of which are vast upgrades over older methods. For example, virtual reality tech allows researchers to gather data without actually visiting a specific environment. Along with this being cheaper and more convenient, but it also eliminates certain ethical worries and attachment to self-report. Another instance of new technology is a sensor that is placed on the skin to measure Galvanic Skin Response, a signal of stress. Additionally, using mobile devices allows measurement to occur almost anywhere with an increase of accuracy.

 

Databases

Storage technology has made it possible for the development of huge databases of data. Several of these catalog human behavior which can be used in the study of psychology. For example, databases possess specifics of anything from crime figures to sleep deprivation. In addition, these databases collect data from a large and diverse human population, making them great for satisfying validity concerns. This presents psychologists with huge stores of knowledge in which to explore.

 

Improving Validity and Reliability

As technological know-how advances, instruments are created which allow people to acquire larger samples and be more specific in their measurements. One of many great problems in psychological research is the replication of results. Pen and pencil self-report has been naturally unreliable. New instruments that demonstrate improved accuracy and accessibility are simpler to replicate. Furthermore, the better the sample, the greater the ability to measure effects and ensure external validity.

Technology has remodeled study regarding psychology. It has led to advancement in treatment, education, mental health assessment, and research. Technology generally provides a far more convenient and cheaper alternative when used for assessment and therapy applications. Maybe most importantly, it has enabled more and more people to acquire information and make use of mental health services.