Treatment

Technology has had a big impact on the changing world of treatment. The traditional face-to-face therapy session is often time-consuming and inconvenient. In some areas, there may be no in-person therapy available. Technology offers other options that put a premium on client ease of access. 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.

 

Teletherapy

If the expansion of companies that offer therapy (e.g., Betterhelp and Talkspace) is any indicator, 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 rely on phone calls and texting seem to provide a different experience; body language, tone, and nuance are most likely lost when 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 resolved that teletherapy is just as effective as more traditional therapy.

 

Websites and Apps

There’s an exploding market of internet-related psychotherapeutic treatment. Much of this is accessible through web sites and apps. Although some software applications are simply 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 favorable results for a variety of psychological disorders, including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Mental health apps are unregulated, however, so users need to proceed with caution when seeking out assistance.

Improved Self-Report

Most self-report actions, which are still the greater part of psychological research and assessments, can be carried out easily on a laptop or computer, in place of with paper and pencil. This reduces costs and is generally more convenient, except in more mature communities who might not be as familiar with computer systems. This makes data research 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 right after it is entered.

 

Increasing Convenience

Cell phones and wearables (e.g., smartwatches, fitness trackers), help it become easy to compile info 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 correct. Some software instantly enters information, such as programs measuring exercise and sleep habits. More information still has to be entered by hand (e.g., a food log) but could be done far more quickly and conveniently on a phone you carry on hand regularly. Technology also allows analysts to perform measurements in natural settings instead of being confined 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 improvements over older methods. For example, virtual reality tech allows scientists to collect data without actually having to go to a specific environment. Along with this being cheaper and more effortless, but it also eliminates certain ethical issues and reliance upon self-report. Another instance of new technology is a sensor that is positioned on the skin to measure 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 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 information regarding everything from crime stats to sleep deprivation. In addition, these databases collect data from a large and diverse human population, making them well suited 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 professionals to acquire larger samples and be more exact 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 exhibit improved accuracy and accessibility are easier to replicate. Likewise, the greater the sample, the better the ability to measure effects and ensure external validity.

Technology has metamorphosed 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 importantly, it has enabled more and more people to get information and take advantage of mental health services.