Treatment

Technology has had a significant impact on the advancing world of treatment. The classic face-to-face therapy session is often time-consuming and cumbersome. In some areas, there may be no in-person treatment available. Technology offers alternative options that put a premium on client ease of access. Digital technology, in the form of websites, 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 proliferation of brands 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 texting 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 only use phone calls and texting seem to offer a different experience; body language, tone, and nuance are commonly lost because you aren’t 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 clinical studies have established that teletherapy is just as effective as conventional therapy.

 

Websites and Apps

There’s certainly an exploding market of internet-related psychotherapeutic treatment. A majority of this is accessible through web sites and apps. Although 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 internet-based therapy uses cognitive-behavioral principles. As a whole, internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy has exhibited favorable results for a variety of psychological illnesses, including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Mental health apps are unregulated, however, so users need to proceed with caution when trying to find assistance.

Improved Self-Report

Most self-report options, which are still the majority of psychological research and assessments, can be administered easily on a computer, instead of with pen and paper. This reduces costs and is generally easier, except in more mature populations who may not be as familiar with computers. This makes data analysis easier; data compiled on a computer can be quickly turned 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 immediately after it is entered.

 

Increasing Convenience

Cell phones and wearables (e.g., smartwatches, fitness trackers), allow it to become easy to compile information as it takes place, instead of having to depend on a later self-report. Our memory is fallible and the quicker the information is entered the more likely it is precise. Some software routinely enters information, like programs measuring physical exercise and sleep habits. More information still must be entered manually (e.g., a food log) but could be done far 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 restricted to the lab. For example, neuroscientist Melina Uncapher of the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) uses software programs on an iPad to cognitively study 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 enhancements over older methods. For instance, virtual reality tech allows scientists to gather 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 dependence on self-report. Another illustration of new technology is a sensor that is positioned on the skin to determine Galvanic Skin Response, a signal of stress. Additionally, using mobile devices allows measurement to take place almost anywhere with more accuracy.

 

Databases

Storage technology has permitted the development of huge directories of information. Several of these catalog human behavior which can be used in the study of psychology. For example, databases possess information on everything from crime stats to sleep deprivation. Furthermore, these databases collect data from a large and diverse human population, making them perfect for satisfying validity concerns. This provides psychologists with huge stores of data in which to explore.

 

Improving Validity and Trustworthiness

As technology advances, instruments are created which allow experts 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 demonstrate improved accuracy and accessibility are easier to replicate. Likewise, the larger the sample, the greater the ability to measure effects and ensure external validity.

Technology has improved the study of psychology. It has led to innovation in treatment, education, mental health assessment, and research. Technology often provides a far more convenient and cheaper option when used for assessment and treatment applications. Maybe most significantly, it has enabled more and more people to acquire information and make use of mental health services.