Treatment

Technology has had a significant impact on the changing world of treatment. The traditional face-to-face therapy session is often time-consuming and inconvenient. In some areas, there may be no in-person therapies available. Technology offers other choices that put a premium on client ease and comfort. Digital technology, in the form of web sites, mobile apps, and teleconferencing, 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 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 provide a different experience; body language, tone, and nuance are mostly lost when you are not able to see or hear your therapist. However, the advantage of receiving services, especially in underserved communities, may outweigh the disadvantages. Although much more research is needed, some researchers have agreed that teletherapy is just as effective as traditional therapy.

 

Websites and Apps

There’s certainly an explosion of internet-related psychotherapeutic treatment. A majority of this is accessed through web sites and apps. Although some apps are basically conduits to teletherapy services, many are hybrids that offer education, self-help, and online support as needed. The majority of online 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 ADHD, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Mental health apps are unregulated, however, so users need to proceed with caution when attempting to find assistance.

Improved Self-Report

Most self-report options, which are still the greater part of psychological research and assessments, can be administered easily on a laptop or computer, instead of with paper and pencil. This decreases costs and is generally more convenient, except in more mature communities who may not be as familiar with computers. This makes data analysis easier; data compiled on a computer can be quickly reconstructed as 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 immediately after it is entered.

 

Increasing Convenience

Cell phones and wearables (e.g., smartwatches, fitness trackers), make it easy to compile information as it occurs, rather than rely on a later self-report. Our memory is fallible and the faster the information is entered the more likely it is precise. Some software immediately enters information, including programs measuring physical exercise and sleep habits. More information still needs to be entered by hand (e.g., a food log) but could be done far more quickly and conveniently on a phone you carry with you at all times. Technology also allows researchers to perform measurements in natural settings rather than be limited to the lab. For example, neuroscientist Melina Uncapher of the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) uses software on an iPad to cognitively measure the brain function of elementary school students in their classrooms.

 

New Instruments

Technology has introduced new ways to gather information, some of which are vast improvements over older methods. For example, virtual reality tech allows scientists to gather data without actually having to go to a specific natural environment. Not only is this cheaper and more effortless, but it also removes certain ethical concerns and attachment to self-report. Another example of new technology is a sensor that is positioned on the skin to determine Galvanic Skin Response, a signal of stress. Additionally, the effective use of mobile devices allows measurement to take place almost anywhere with more accuracy.

 

Databases

Storage technology has made it possible for the development of huge databases of data. A number of these catalog human behavior which can be used in the study of psychology. For instance, databases possess details of anything from crime statistics to sleep deprivation. Furthermore, these databases collect data from a large and diverse population, making them great for satisfying validity concerns. This provides psychologists with huge stores of data in which to examine.

 

Improving Validity and Dependability

As technological know-how advances, instruments are created which allow professionals to acquire larger samples and be more exact 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 exhibit improved accuracy and accessibility are easier to replicate. Likewise, the greater the sample, the better the ability to measure effects and ensure external validity.

Technology has revitalized study regarding psychology. It has led to innovation in treatment, education, mental health assessment, and background work. Technology usually provides a far more convenient and cheaper alternative when used for assessment and therapy purposes. Maybe most importantly, it has enabled lots more people to acquire information and make the most of mental health services.