Treatment

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

 

Telemedicine

If the proliferation of companies that offer services (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 only use phone calls and texting seem to present a different experience; body language, tone, and nuance are commonly lost when you aren’t able to see or hear your therapist. However, the advantage of receiving services, especially in underserved communities, may be greater than the disadvantages. Although much more groundwork is needed, some studies have agreed that teletherapy is just as effective as traditional therapy.

 

Websites and Apps

There’s definitely an explosion of internet-related psychotherapeutic treatment. A majority of this is available through web sites and apps. Even though some apps 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 favorable results for a variety of psychological disorders, including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Mental health apps are unregulated, however, so consumers need to proceed with caution when attempting to get assistance.

Improved Self-Report

Most self-report options, which are still the greater part of psychological research and assessments, can be implemented easily on a laptop or computer, instead of with paper and pencil. This decreases costs and is generally more convenient, except in older populations who will not be as familiar with computers. This also makes data analysis easier; data collected 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 right after it is entered.

 

Increasing Convenience

Cell phones and wearables (e.g., smartwatches, fitness trackers), allow it to become easy to compile data as it happens, instead of having to rely on a later self-report. Our memory is fallible and the faster the information is entered the more likely it is correct. Some software immediately enters information, like programs measuring activity and sleep habits. Other information still must be entered by hand (e.g., a food log) but can be done far more quickly and conveniently on a phone you carry on hand regularly. Technology also allows analysts 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 on an iPad to cognitively evaluate the brain function of elementary school students inside their classrooms.

 

New Instruments

Technology has introduced new ways to gather information, some of which are vast advancements over older methods. For instance, virtual reality tech allows researchers to collect data without actually visiting a specific environment. Besides this being cheaper and more convenient, but it also eradicates certain ethical concerns and dependence on self-report. Another example of new technology is a sensor that is positioned on the skin to determine Galvanic Skin Response, an indicator of stress. Additionally, the effective use of mobile devices allows measurement to happen almost anyplace with an increase of accuracy.

 

Databases

Storage technology has helped the development of huge databases of data. A number of these catalog human behavior that can be used in the study of psychology. For instance, databases possess specifics of everything from crime statistics to sleep deprivation. Furthermore, these databases collect data from a large and diverse population, making them ideal for satisfying validity concerns. This presents psychologists with huge stores of knowledge in which to explore.

 

Improving Validity and Consistency

As technology advances, instruments are created which allow people to acquire larger samples and be more precise in their measurements. One of the great problems in psychological research is the reproduction of results. Pen and pencil self-report has been basically unreliable. New instruments that demonstrate improved accuracy and accessibility are simpler to replicate. Likewise, the larger the sample, the higher the ability to measure effects and ensure external validity.

Technology has revolutionized the study of psychology. It has led to advancement in treatment, education, mental health assessment, and background work. Technology usually provides a far more convenient and cheaper option when used for assessment and therapy purposes. Maybe most significantly, it has enabled lots more people to obtain information and make use of mental health services.