Treatment

Technology has had a noticeable impact on the evolving world of treatment. The traditional 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 comfort and ease. 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.

 

Telemedicine

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 offer a different experience; body language, tone, and nuance are regularly 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 studies have agreed that teletherapy is just as effective as more traditional therapy.

 

Websites and Apps

There’s definitely an explosion of internet-related psychotherapeutic treatment. Much of this is accessed through web sites and apps. Although some software applications are basically just conduits to teletherapy services, many are hybrids that offer education, self-help, and online support if needed. 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 users need to proceed with caution when in search of assistance.

Improved Self-Report

Most self-report options, which are still the majority of psychological research and assessments, can be implemented easily on a laptop or computer, instead of with pen and paper. This reduces costs and is generally more convenient, except in more mature communities who might not be as familiar with computers. This makes data analysis 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 immediately after it is entered.

 

Adding to Convenience

Cell phones and wearables (e.g., smartwatches, fitness trackers), help it become easy to compile information as it happens, rather than depend on a later self-report. Our memory is fallible and the speedier the details are entered the more likely it is accurate. Some software instantly enters information, such as programs measuring exercise and sleep habits. Other information still has to be entered manually (e.g., a food log) but can be done far more quickly and conveniently on a phone you carry on hand regularly. Technology also allows researchers 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 measure the brain function of elementary school students in their classrooms.

 

New Instruments

Technology has unveiled new ways to gather information, some of which are vast enhancements over older methods. For instance, virtual reality tech allows researchers to collect data without actually having to go to a specific natural environment. Along with this being cheaper and more convenient, but it also removes certain ethical worries and reliance upon self-report. Another example of new technology is a sensor that is affixed to the skin to determine Galvanic Skin Response, an indicator of stress. Additionally, using mobile devices allows measurement to take place almost anywhere with an increase of accuracy.

 

Databases

Storage technology has made it possible for the development of huge databases of information. Several of these catalog human behavior which can be used in the study of psychology. For example, databases possess specifics of anything from crime statistics 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 provides psychologists with huge stores of knowledge in which to examine.

 

Improving Validity and Consistency

As technological know-how advances, instruments are created which allow experts to get 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 fundamentally unreliable. New instruments that show improved accuracy and accessibility are easier to replicate. Additionally, the larger the sample, the better the ability to measure effects and ensure external validity.

Technology has revitalized study regarding psychology. It has led to advancement in treatment, education, mental health assessment, and background work. Technology often provides a more convenient and cheaper alternative when used for assessment and therapy reasons. Maybe most significantly, it has enabled more people to obtain information and make the most of mental health services.