Treatment

Technology has had a heavy impact on the ever changing world of mental health treatment. The classic face-to-face therapy session is often time-consuming and inconvenient. In some areas, there is no in-person therapy available. Technology offers alternative 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.

 

Teletherapy

If the proliferation of companies that offer treatment (e.g., Betterhelp and Talkspace) is any indicator, the popularity of teletherapy is growing. The name “tele” is a bit of a misnomer, as teletherapy can be done through video and texting as well as on the phone .. 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 you with a different experience; body language, tone, and nuance are regularly lost when you are not able to see or hear your therapist. However, the convenience of receiving services, especially in underserved communities, may be greater than the disadvantages. Although much more research is needed, some researchers have agreed that teletherapy is just as effective as more traditional therapy.

 

Websites and Apps

There’s an exploding market of internet-related psychotherapeutic treatment. A majority of this is available through web sites and apps. Even though some apps are basically conduits to teletherapy services, many are hybrids that offer education, self-help, and online support when needed. The bulk of internet-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 ADHD, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Mental health apps are unregulated, however, so users need to proceed with caution when looking for assistance.

Improved Self-Report

Many self-report options, which are still the majority of psychological research and assessments, can be carried out easily on a computer, in place of with pen and paper. This reduces costs and is generally more convenient, except in more mature populations who will not be as familiar with computer systems. This makes data analysis easier; data collected 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.

 

Adding to Convenience

Cell phones and wearables (e.g., smartwatches, fitness trackers), make it easy to compile information as it occurs, rather than rely on a later self-report. Our memory is fallible and the speedier 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 needs 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 analysts 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 software on an iPad to cognitively study the thinking processes of elementary school students inside their school rooms.

 

New Instruments

Technology has introduced new ways to gather information and facts, some of which are vast enhancements over older methods. For example, 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 concerns and attachment to self-report. Another case of new technology is a sensor that is positioned on the skin to measure Galvanic Skin Response, an indicator of stress. Additionally, the effective use of mobile devices allows measurement to take place almost anywhere with more accuracy.

 

Databases

Storage technology has permitted 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 on everything from crime statistics to sleep deprivation. In addition, these databases collect data 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 explore.

 

Improving Validity and Reliability

As technology advances, instruments are created which allow experts to acquire larger samples and be more exact 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 exhibit improved accuracy and accessibility are simpler to replicate. Moreover, the larger the sample, the greater the ability to measure effects and ensure external validity.

Technology has greatly improved the study of psychology. It has led to advancement in treatment, education, mental health assessment, and research. Technology generally provides a far more convenient and cheaper alternative when used for assessment and treatment reasons. Maybe most importantly, it has enabled lots more people to acquire information and make the most of mental health services.