Treatment

Technology has had a major impact on the ever changing world of 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 alternate options that put a premium on client ease of access. Digital technology, in the form of websites, 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 proliferation of companies that offer services (e.g., Betterhelp and Talkspace) is any indication, the popularity of teletherapy 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 you with a different experience; body language, tone, and nuance are most likely 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 groundwork is needed, some case studies have established that teletherapy is just as effective as more traditional therapy.

 

Websites and Apps

There’s definitely an exploding market of internet-related psychotherapeutic treatment. Much of this is accessed 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 bulk of internet-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 ADHD, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Mental health apps are unregulated, however, so consumers need to proceed with caution when seeking assistance.

Improved Self-Report

Many self-report actions, which are still the greater part of psychological research and assessments, can be carried out easily on a computer, rather than with pen and paper. This decreases costs and is generally easier, except in more mature populations who will not be as familiar with computers. This also makes data analysis easier; data collected on a computer can be quickly turned 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), allow it to become easy to compile data as it occurs, rather than rely on a later self-report. Human memory is fallible and the faster the details are entered the more likely it is precise. Some software routinely enters information, like programs measuring physical exercise and sleep habits. Other information still has to be entered manually (e.g., a food log) but could be done much more quickly and conveniently on a phone you carry with you at all times. Technology also allows researchers to perform measurements in natural settings instead of being limited to the lab. For example, neuroscientist Melina Uncapher of the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) uses computer software on an iPad to cognitively evaluate the brain function of elementary school students inside their school rooms.

 

New Instruments

Technology has unveiled new ways to gather information, some of which are vast enhancements over older methods. For example, virtual reality tech allows scientists to collect data without actually going to a specific environment. Besides this being cheaper and more convenient, but it also removes certain ethical issues and reliance upon self-report. Another example of new technology is a sensor that is placed on the skin to measure Galvanic Skin Response, an indicator of stress. Additionally, the effective use of mobile devices allows measurement to occur almost anyplace with more accuracy.

 

Databases

Storage technology has helped the development of huge databases of data. A number 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 info from a large and diverse human population, making them ideal for satisfying validity concerns. This presents psychologists with huge stores of data in which to explore.

 

Improving Validity and Dependability

As technology advances, instruments are created which allow professionals to acquire larger samples and be more specific in their measurements. One of the 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. Likewise, the larger the sample, the greater the ability to measure effects and ensure external validity.

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