Treatment

Technology has had a noticeable 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 may be no in-person therapy available. Technology offers other options that put a premium on client convenience. Digital technology, in the form of web sites, mobile apps, and telemedicine, 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 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 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 only use phone calls and texting seem to provide 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 outweigh the disadvantages. Although much more research is needed, some case studies have resolved that teletherapy is just as effective as conventional therapy.

 

Websites and Apps

There’s certainly an exploding market of internet-related psychotherapeutic treatment. Much of this is accessible through web sites and apps. Even though some apps are basically just 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 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 assistance.

Improved Self-Report

Many self-report actions, which are still the greater part of psychological research and assessments, can be implemented easily on a laptop or computer, as opposed to with pen and paper. This decreases costs and is generally more convenient, except in older communities who will not be as familiar with computers. This also makes data research easier; data compiled on a computer can be quickly transformed 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 right after it is entered.

 

Increasing Convenience

Cell phones and wearables (e.g., smartwatches, fitness trackers), allow it to become easy to compile information as it takes place, instead of having to depend on a later self-report. Human memory is fallible and the faster the information is entered the more likely it is reliable. Some software immediately enters information, including programs measuring exercise and sleep habits. Other information still needs 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 all the time. Technology also allows researchers 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 computer software on an iPad to cognitively evaluate the brain function of elementary school students in their school rooms.

 

New Instruments

Technology has introduced new ways to gather data, some of which are vast enhancements over older methods. For example, virtual reality tech allows researchers to gather data without actually having to go to a specific natural environment. Besides 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 affixed to the skin to determine Galvanic Skin Response, a signal of stress. Additionally, using mobile devices allows measurement to occur almost anyplace with more accuracy.

 

Databases

Storage technology has allowed the development of huge directories of data. Many of these catalog human behavior that can be used in the study of psychology. For example, databases possess information on anything from crime figures to sleep deprivation. Furthermore, 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 explore.

 

Improving Validity and Reliability

As technological know-how advances, instruments are created which allow researchers to get larger samples and be more precise in their measurements. One of many great problems in psychological research is the replication of results. Pen and pencil self-report has been inherently unreliable. New instruments that show improved accuracy and accessibility are easier to replicate. Moreover, the larger the sample, the greater the ability to measure effects and ensure external validity.

Technology has remodeled study regarding psychology. It has led to innovation in treatment, education, mental health assessment, and background work. Technology often provides a far more convenient and cheaper option when used for assessment and therapy applications. Maybe most importantly, it has enabled more and more people to get information and benefit from mental health services.