Treatment

Technology has had a significant impact on the changing world of mental health treatment. The classic face-to-face therapy session is often time-consuming and inconvenient. In some areas, there may be no in-person therapy available. Technology offers alternatives that put a premium on client ease of access. Digital technology, in the form of websites, mobile apps, and teleconferencing, are the future of psychotherapy. Revolutionary online mental health assessment tools like Clinicom are setting new standards in how treament is advancing in mental health.

 

Teletherapy

If the expansion of companies 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 offer a different experience; body language, tone, and nuance are regularly lost because you are not able to see or hear your therapist. However, the advantage of receiving services, especially in underserved communities, may be greater than the disadvantages. Although much more groundwork is needed, some medical professionals have determined that teletherapy is just as effective as traditional therapy.

 

Websites and Apps

There’s an exploding market of internet-related psychotherapeutic treatment. Much of this is accessible through websites and apps. Even though some software applications are basically just conduits to teletherapy services, many are hybrids that offer education, self-help, and online support when needed. 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 disorders, including ADHD, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Mental health apps are unregulated, however, so users should proceed with caution when searching for help.

Improved Self-Report

Most self-report options, which are still the majority of psychological research and assessments, can be implemented easily on a computer, as an alternative to with pen and paper. This decreases costs and is generally more convenient, except in older communities who might not be as familiar with computers. This also makes data research easier; data compiled on a computer can be quickly reconstructed as 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 right after it is entered.

 

Adding to Convenience

Cell phones and wearables (e.g., smartwatches, fitness trackers), make it easy to compile info as it occurs, rather than depend on a later self-report. Human memory is fallible and the faster the information is entered the more likely it is precise. Some software immediately enters information, such as programs measuring physical exercise and sleep habits. Other information still is required to be entered by hand (e.g., a food log) but could be done far more quickly and conveniently on a phone you carry with you at all times. Technology also allows researchers to perform measurements in natural settings rather than be restricted to the lab. For example, neuroscientist Melina Uncapher of the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) uses software programs on an iPad to cognitively assess the brain function of elementary school students inside their school rooms.

 

New Instruments

Technology has introduced new ways to gather data, some of which are vast advancements over older methods. For instance, virtual reality tech allows researchers to gather data without actually visiting a specific environment. Along with this being cheaper and more effortless, but it also eliminates certain ethical concerns and reliance upon self-report. Another illustration of new technology is a sensor that is affixed to the skin to measure Galvanic Skin Response, a signal of stress. Additionally, the use of mobile devices allows measurement to happen almost anywhere with a lot more accuracy.

 

Databases

Storage technology has permitted the development of huge databases of data. Many of these catalog human behavior which can be used in the study of psychology. For example, databases possess details of everything from crime stats to sleep deprivation. In addition, these databases collect information from a large and diverse human population, making them great for satisfying validity concerns. This provides psychologists with huge stores of knowledge in which to look into.

 

Improving Validity and Consistency

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 the great problems in psychological research is the reproduction of results. Pen and pencil self-report has been fundamentally unreliable. New instruments that demonstrate improved accuracy and accessibility are easier to replicate. Additionally, the better the sample, the greater 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 research. Technology generally provides a more convenient and cheaper option when used for assessment and therapy reasons. Maybe most importantly, it has enabled more and more people to get information and take advantage of mental health services.