Treatment

Technology has had a noticeable 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 is no in-person therapy available. Technology offers other choices that put a premium on client comfort and ease. Digital technology, in the form of websites, 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.

 

Telemedicine

If the expansion of companies that offer services (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 present 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 advantage of receiving services, especially in underserved communities, may outweigh the disadvantages. Although much more groundwork is needed, some medical professionals have determined 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. Even though some applications are basically just conduits to teletherapy services, many are hybrids that offer education, self-help, and online support when necessary. 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 illnesses, including ADHD, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Mental health apps are unregulated, however, so consumers should proceed with caution when trying to get help.

Improved Self-Report

Many self-report measures, which are still the majority of psychological research and assessments, can be carried out easily on a computer, instead of with pen and paper. This decreases costs and is generally more convenient, 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 transformed 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 data as it occurs, instead of having to rely on a later self-report. Human memory is fallible and the faster the information is entered the more likely it is reliable. Some software instantly enters information, such as programs measuring activity and sleep habits. More information still must be entered by hand (e.g., a food log) but can be done far more quickly and conveniently on a phone you carry with you all the time. Technology also allows scientists to perform measurements in natural settings rather than be limited 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 thinking processes of elementary school students inside their classrooms.

 

New Instruments

Technology has unveiled new ways to gather data, 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 natural 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 determine Galvanic Skin Response, a signal of stress. Additionally, the utilization of mobile devices allows measurement to happen almost anyplace with an increase of accuracy.

 

Databases

Storage technology has allowed the development of huge directories of information. Several of these catalog human behavior that can be used in the study of psychology. For instance, databases possess facts about anything from crime figures to sleep deprivation. In addition, these databases collect information from a large and diverse human population, making them ideal for satisfying validity concerns. This provides psychologists with huge stores of data in which to explore.

 

Improving Validity and Integrity

As technological know-how advances, instruments are created which allow people to acquire larger samples and be more specific in their measurements. One of many 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 easier to replicate. Additionally, the larger the sample, the greater the ability to measure effects and ensure external validity.

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