Treatment

Technology has had a huge impact on the ever changing world of treatment. The classic face-to-face therapy session is often time-consuming and uncomfortable. In some areas, there may be no in-person therapy available. Technology offers alternate options that put a premium on client ease of access. Digital technology, in the form of web sites, mobile 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.

 

Teletherapy

If the expansion of brands that offer treatment (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 present a different experience; body language, tone, and nuance are commonly lost when you are not able to see or hear your therapist. However, the convenience of receiving services, especially in underserved communities, may outweigh the disadvantages. Although much more research is needed, some clinical studies have agreed that teletherapy is just as effective as more traditional therapy.

 

Websites and Apps

There’s certainly an exploding market of internet-related psychotherapeutic treatment. Much of this is accessed 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 when required. The majority 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 depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Mental health apps are unregulated, however, so consumers should certainly proceed with caution when seeking assistance.

Improved Self-Report

Many self-report actions, which are still the majority of psychological research and assessments, can be administered easily on a computer, instead of with pen and paper. This decreases costs and is generally easier, except in more mature communities who might not be as familiar with computer systems. This makes data analysis easier; data collected 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.

 

Increasing Convenience

Cell phones and wearables (e.g., smartwatches, fitness trackers), allow it to become easy to compile information as it happens, instead of having to rely on a later self-report. Human memory is fallible and the faster the details are entered the more likely it is accurate. Some software immediately enters information, like programs measuring exercise and sleep habits. Other information still is required to be entered by hand (e.g., a food log) but can be done much more quickly and conveniently on a phone you carry with you all the time. Technology also allows researchers to perform measurements in natural settings rather than be confined to the lab. For example, neuroscientist Melina Uncapher of the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) uses computer software on an iPad to cognitively assess the thinking processes of elementary school students inside their classrooms.

 

New Instruments

Technology has introduced new ways to gather material, some of which are vast improvements over older methods. For instance, virtual reality tech allows scientists to collect data without actually visiting a specific natural environment. Along with this being cheaper and more effortless, but it also eradicates certain ethical worries and reliance on self-report. Another example of new technology is a sensor that is positioned on the skin to measure Galvanic Skin Response, a signal of stress. Additionally, the utilization of mobile devices allows measurement to take place almost anyplace with a lot more accuracy.

 

Databases

Storage technology has allowed the development of huge databases of information. A number of these catalog human behavior that can be used in the study of psychology. For instance, databases possess details of everything from crime stats to sleep deprivation. Furthermore, these databases collect information from a large and diverse population, making them ideal for satisfying validity concerns. This presents psychologists with huge stores of information in which to examine.

 

Improving Validity and Consistency

As technological know-how advances, instruments are created which allow research workers to obtain larger samples and be more specific in their measurements. One of the great problems in psychological research is the reproduction of results. Pen and pencil self-report has been naturally unreliable. New instruments that show improved accuracy and accessibility are easier to replicate. Moreover, the better the sample, the better the ability to measure effects and ensure external validity.

Technology has improved the study of psychology. It has led to advancement in treatment, education, mental health assessment, and background work. Technology usually provides a far more convenient and cheaper option when used for assessment and therapy reasons. Maybe most significantly, it has enabled more and more people to acquire information and take advantage of mental health services.