Treatment

Technology has had a heavy impact on the changing world of mental health treatment. The traditional face-to-face therapy session is often time-consuming and uncomfortable. In some areas, there is no in-person treatment available. Technology offers alternative options that put a premium on client comfort and ease. 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 expansion of companies that offer therapy (e.g., Betterhelp and Talkspace) is any indicator, 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 rely on phone calls and texting seem to present a different experience; body language, tone, and nuance are often 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 medical professionals have agreed that teletherapy is just as effective as traditional therapy.

 

Websites and Apps

There’s definitely an exploding market of internet-related psychotherapeutic treatment. Much of this is available through web sites and apps. Even though some software applications are basically conduits to teletherapy services, many are hybrids that offer education, self-help, and online support if necessary. The majority of internet-based therapy uses cognitive-behavioral principles. As a whole, internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy has exhibited positive results for a variety of psychological disorders, including ADHD, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Mental health apps are unregulated, however, so consumers should certainly proceed with caution when attempting to get assistance.

Improved Self-Report

Many self-report measures, which are still the greater part of psychological research and assessments, can be taken easily on a laptop or computer, in place of with paper and pencil. This reduces costs and is generally more convenient, except in older communities who will not be as familiar with computers. This makes data research easier; data collected 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 data as it happens, instead of having to depend on a later self-report. Human memory is fallible and the faster the details are entered the more likely it is correct. 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 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 programs on an iPad to cognitively study 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 enhancements over older methods. For instance, virtual reality tech allows scientists to collect data without actually visiting a specific natural environment. Besides this being cheaper and more convenient, but it also eradicates certain ethical issues and reliance upon self-report. Another case of new technology is a sensor that is placed on the skin to determine Galvanic Skin Response, an indicator of stress. Additionally, the utilization of mobile devices allows measurement to take place almost anyplace with more accuracy.

 

Databases

Storage technology has helped the development of huge directories of data. A number of these catalog human behavior which 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 info from a large and diverse human population, making them well suited for satisfying validity concerns. This provides psychologists with huge stores of knowledge in which to look into.

 

Improving Validity and Integrity

As technological know-how advances, instruments are created which allow research workers to acquire larger samples and be more accurate 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 show improved accuracy and accessibility are simpler to replicate. Additionally, the larger the sample, the higher the ability to measure effects and ensure external validity.

Technology has metamorphosed study regarding psychology. It has led to advancement in treatment, education, mental health assessment, and research. Technology usually provides a more convenient and cheaper option when used for assessment and treatment purposes. Maybe most significantly, it has enabled more and more people to get information and utilize mental health services.