Treatment

Technology has had a significant impact on the evolving 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 therapy available. Technology offers alternative options that put a premium on client convenience. Digital technology, in the form of web sites, 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.

 

Teletherapy

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 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 regularly 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 case studies have established 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 available through web sites and apps. Although some applications are basically just conduits to teletherapy services, many are hybrids that offer education, self-help, and online support when required. The bulk of online based therapy uses cognitive-behavioral principles. As a whole, internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy has exhibited positive results for a variety of psychological illnesses, 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 get help.

Improved Self-Report

Most self-report actions, which are still the majority of psychological research and assessments, can be carried out easily on a computer, as opposed to with paper and pencil. This decreases costs and is generally more convenient, except in older communities who will not be as familiar with computer systems. This makes data research easier; data compiled on a computer can be quickly reconstructed as computer statistical analysis. For instance, many assessment instruments (e.g., the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory and Beck Depression Inventory) automatically tabulate and interpret data right after it is entered.

 

Adding to Convenience

Cell phones and wearables (e.g., smartwatches, fitness trackers), allow it to become easy to compile data as it takes place, instead of having to rely on a later self-report. Our memory is fallible and the speedier the details are entered the more likely it is precise. Some software immediately enters information, such as programs measuring physical exercise and sleep habits. Other information still must be entered by hand (e.g., a food log) but could be done much more quickly and conveniently on a phone you carry on hand at all times. Technology also allows scientists 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 evaluate the brain function of elementary school students in their classrooms.

 

New Instruments

Technology has introduced new ways to gather information and facts, some of which are vast advancements over older methods. For instance, virtual reality tech allows researchers to collect 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 worries and reliance on self-report. Another example of new technology is a sensor that is placed on the skin to determine Galvanic Skin Response, a signal of stress. Additionally, the effective use of mobile devices allows measurement to happen almost anywhere with an increase of accuracy.

 

Databases

Storage technology has helped the development of huge databases of information. A number of these catalog human behavior that can be used in the study of psychology. For example, 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 ideal for satisfying validity concerns. This presents psychologists with huge stores of information in which to look into.

 

Improving Validity and Trustworthiness

As technology advances, instruments are created which allow researchers to get 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 basically unreliable. New instruments that exhibit improved accuracy and accessibility are easier to replicate. Furthermore, the better the sample, the greater the ability to measure effects and ensure external validity.

Technology has revitalized the study of psychology. It has led to advancement in treatment, education, mental health assessment, and research. Technology typically provides a more convenient and cheaper alternative when used for assessment and treatment purposes. Maybe most importantly, it has enabled more and more people to obtain information and make the most of mental health services.