Treatment

Technology has had a huge impact on the ever changing world of mental health 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 alternative options 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 digital psychiatric assessment tools like Clinicom are setting new standards in how treament is advancing in mental health.

 

Telemedicine

If the proliferation of brands that offer services (e.g., Betterhelp and Talkspace) is any indication, the popularity of teletherapy 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 regularly lost because 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 research is needed, some studies have established that teletherapy is just as effective as conventional therapy.

 

Websites and Apps

There’s an exploding market of internet-related psychotherapeutic treatment. Much of this is available through websites and apps. Even though some apps are simply 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 illnesses, including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Mental health apps are unregulated, however, so users need to proceed with caution when seeking help.

Improved Self-Report

Most self-report options, which are still the majority of psychological research and assessments, can be carried out easily on a laptop or computer, rather than with pen and paper. This decreases costs and is generally easier, except in more mature communities who might not be as familiar with computers. This also makes data analysis 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 immediately 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, 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 precise. Some software immediately enters information, such as programs measuring exercise and sleep habits. Other information still must be entered by hand (e.g., a food log) but could be done far more quickly and conveniently on a phone you carry on hand at all times. 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 programs on an iPad to cognitively study the thinking processes of elementary school students inside their school rooms.

 

New Instruments

Technology has unveiled new ways to gather information, some of which are vast improvements over older methods. For instance, virtual reality tech allows researchers to gather data without actually visiting a specific environment. Not only is this cheaper and more effortless, but it also removes certain ethical issues and reliance on self-report. Another example of new technology is a sensor that is positioned on the skin to determine Galvanic Skin Response, an indicator of stress. Additionally, the utilization of mobile devices allows measurement to occur almost anywhere with more accuracy.

 

Databases

Storage technology has made it possible for the development of huge directories of information. 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 data from a large and diverse human population, making them well suited for satisfying validity concerns. This provides psychologists with huge stores of data 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 exact in their measurements. One of many great problems in psychological research is the replication of results. Pen and pencil self-report has been basically unreliable. New instruments that show improved accuracy and accessibility are simpler to replicate. Moreover, the better the sample, the better the ability to measure effects and ensure external validity.

Technology has transformed the study of psychology. It has led to advancement in treatment, education, mental health assessment, and research. Technology typically provides a more convenient and cheaper alternative when used for assessment and treatment purposes. Maybe most significantly, it has enabled a lot more people to get information and make use of mental health services.