Treatment

Technology has had a noteworthy impact on the ever changing world of treatment. The classic face-to-face therapy session is often time-consuming and cumbersome. In some areas, there is no in-person therapies available. Technology offers alternate options that put a premium on client comfort and ease. Digital technology, in the form of web sites, mobile apps, and telemedicine, are the future of psychotherapy. Revolutionary online mental health assessment tools like Clinicom are setting new standards in how treament is advancing in mental health.

 

Teletherapy

If the expansion of companies that offer therapy (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 phone .. 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 offer a different experience; body language, tone, and nuance are mostly lost because you are not able to see or hear your therapist. However, the convenience of receiving services, especially in underserved communities, may be greater than the disadvantages. Although much more groundwork is needed, some clinical studies have resolved that teletherapy is just as effective as more traditional therapy.

 

Websites and Apps

There’s certainly an exploding market of internet-related psychotherapeutic treatment. A majority of this is available through websites and apps. Although some software applications are basically just conduits to teletherapy services, many are hybrids that offer education, self-help, and online support if needed. The majority of internet-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 proceed with caution when trying to find assistance.

Improved Self-Report

Many self-report measures, which are still the majority of psychological research and assessments, can be given easily on a laptop or computer, as an alternative to with paper and pencil. This reduces costs and is generally easier, except in more mature populations who will not be as familiar with computer systems. This makes data research easier; data compiled on a computer can be quickly turned into computer statistical analysis. As an example, many assessment instruments (e.g., the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory and Beck Depression Inventory) automatically tabulate and interpret data right 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, instead of having to depend on a later self-report. Human memory is fallible and the quicker the information is entered the more likely it is precise. Some software automatically enters information, like programs measuring exercise and sleep habits. Other information still has to be entered by hand (e.g., a food log) but can be done much more quickly and conveniently on a phone you carry with you all the time. Technology also allows researchers to perform measurements in natural settings instead of being limited to the lab. For example, neuroscientist Melina Uncapher of the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) uses software programs on an iPad to cognitively measure the brain function of elementary school students inside their school rooms.

 

New Instruments

Technology has unveiled new ways to gather information, some of which are vast improvements over older methods. For example, virtual reality tech allows researchers to collect data without actually having to go to a specific environment. Along with this being cheaper and more effortless, but it also removes certain ethical worries and attachment to self-report. Another instance of new technology is a sensor that is placed on the skin to determine Galvanic Skin Response, an indicator of stress. Additionally, the effective use of mobile devices allows measurement to occur almost anyplace with a lot more accuracy.

 

Databases

Storage technology has permitted the development of huge databases of data. Several of these catalog human behavior which can be used in the study of psychology. For instance, databases possess specifics of anything from crime stats to sleep deprivation. In addition, these databases collect data from a large and diverse human population, making them ideal for satisfying validity concerns. This provides psychologists with huge stores of knowledge in which to look into.

 

Improving Validity and Trustworthiness

As technological know-how advances, instruments are created which allow experts to get larger samples and be more specific in their measurements. One of many great problems in psychological research is the reproduction of results. Pen and pencil self-report has been inherently unreliable. New instruments that demonstrate improved accuracy and accessibility are easier to replicate. Likewise, the better the sample, the higher the ability to measure effects and ensure external validity.

Technology has revitalized study regarding psychology. It has led to advancement in treatment, education, mental health assessment, and research. Technology typically provides a more convenient and cheaper alternative when used for assessment and treatment reasons. Maybe most of all, it has enabled lots more people to get information and make use of mental health services.