Treatment

Technology has had a significant impact on the changing world of mental health 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 alternatives that put a premium on client ease and comfort. Digital technology, in the form of websites, 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.

 

Telemedicine

If the proliferation of brands that offer services (e.g., Betterhelp and Talkspace) is any indication, 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 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 ease of receiving services, especially in underserved communities, may be greater than the disadvantages. Although much more research is needed, some studies have resolved that teletherapy is just as effective as more 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. Although some apps are basically conduits to teletherapy services, many are hybrids that offer education, self-help, and online support when necessary. 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 illnesses, 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 find help.

Improved Self-Report

Most self-report actions, which are still the greater part of psychological research and assessments, can be taken easily on a computer, instead of with paper and pencil. This decreases costs and is generally more convenient, except in older populations who may not be as familiar with computer systems. This also makes data research easier; data compiled on a computer can be quickly transformed 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 immediately after it is entered.

 

Increasing Convenience

Cell phones and wearables (e.g., smartwatches, fitness trackers), make it easy to compile information as it happens, instead of having to rely on a later self-report. Our memory is fallible and the quicker the information is entered the more likely it is accurate. Some software immediately enters information, such as programs measuring physical exercise and sleep habits. Other information still is required to be entered manually (e.g., a food log) but could be done much more quickly and conveniently on a phone you carry on hand regularly. Technology also allows analysts 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 programs on an iPad to cognitively measure the brain function of elementary school students inside their school rooms.

 

New Instruments

Technology has introduced new ways to gather information and facts, some of which are vast advancements over older methods. For example, virtual reality tech allows researchers to gather data without actually going to a specific natural environment. Not only is this cheaper and more effortless, but it also removes certain ethical worries and dependence on self-report. Another example of new technology is a sensor that is affixed to the skin to measure Galvanic Skin Response, an indicator of stress. Additionally, the use of mobile devices allows measurement to occur almost anywhere with increased accuracy.

 

Databases

Storage technology has helped the development of huge databases of information. Many of these catalog human behavior that can be used in the study of psychology. For instance, databases possess information regarding everything from crime statistics to sleep deprivation. In addition, these databases collect information from a large and diverse population, making them well suited for satisfying validity concerns. This presents 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 professionals 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 fundamentally unreliable. New instruments that show improved accuracy and accessibility are easier to replicate. Likewise, the greater the sample, the greater 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 more convenient and cheaper alternative when used for assessment and treatment reasons. Maybe most significantly, it has enabled a lot more people to get information and utilize mental health services.