Treatment

Technology has had a big impact on the ever changing world of treatment. The classic face-to-face therapy session is often time-consuming and inconvenient. In some areas, there is no in-person therapies available. Technology offers alternate options that put a premium on client ease and comfort. Digital technology, in the form of web sites, apps, and teleconferencing, 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 therapy (e.g., Betterhelp and Talkspace) is any indicator, the popularity of telemedicine 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 offer 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 concluded that teletherapy is just as effective as more traditional therapy.

 

Websites and Apps

There’s definitely an explosion of internet-related psychotherapeutic treatment. Much of this is available through web sites and apps. Although some software applications are simply conduits to teletherapy services, many are hybrids that offer education, self-help, and online support as needed. The bulk 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 should proceed with caution when attempting to get help.

Improved Self-Report

Many self-report measures, which are still the greater part of psychological research and assessments, can be given easily on a computer, in place of with paper and pencil. This decreases costs and is generally more convenient, except in more mature communities who will not be as familiar with computers. This makes data research easier; data collected on a computer can be quickly transformed into computer statistical analysis. For 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, rather than depend on a later self-report. Our 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 physical exercise and sleep habits. More information still is required to be entered manually (e.g., a food log) but can be done much more quickly and conveniently on a phone you carry on hand all the time. Technology also allows researchers to perform measurements in natural settings instead of being confined to the lab. For example, neuroscientist Melina Uncapher of the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) uses software on an iPad to cognitively study the brain function of elementary school students inside their school rooms.

 

New Instruments

Technology has introduced new ways to gather material, some of which are vast enhancements over older methods. For example, virtual reality tech allows researchers to gather data without actually visiting a specific environment. Besides this being cheaper and more convenient, but it also eliminates certain ethical issues and reliance on self-report. Another example of new technology is a sensor that is placed on the skin to measure Galvanic Skin Response, an indicator of stress. Additionally, the use of mobile devices allows measurement to happen almost anywhere with increased accuracy.

 

Databases

Storage technology has made it possible for the development of huge directories of information. Many of these catalog human behavior which can be used in the study of psychology. For example, databases possess details of everything from crime figures to sleep deprivation. Furthermore, these databases collect data from a large and diverse population, making them well suited for satisfying validity concerns. This provides psychologists with huge stores of data in which to look into.

 

Improving Validity and Integrity

As technological know-how advances, instruments are created which allow experts to obtain larger samples and be more accurate in their measurements. One of the 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 simpler to replicate. Furthermore, the larger the sample, the greater the ability to measure effects and ensure external validity.

Technology has transformed study regarding psychology. It has led to advancement in treatment, education, mental health assessment, and research. Technology typically provides a more convenient and cheaper option when used for assessment and treatment applications. Maybe most significantly, it has enabled more people to acquire information and benefit from mental health services.