Treatment

Technology has had a major impact on the advancing 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 therapies available. Technology offers alternate options that put a premium on client comfort and ease. Digital technology, in the form of web sites, mobile 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 proliferation of brands 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 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 offer a different experience; body language, tone, and nuance are commonly lost because 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 researchers 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 web sites and apps. Although some applications are basically just conduits to teletherapy services, many are hybrids that offer education, self-help, and online support when required. The bulk of online 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 consumers should proceed with caution when looking for help.

Improved Self-Report

Most self-report measures, which are still the greater part of psychological research and assessments, can be implemented easily on a laptop or computer, as opposed to with paper and pencil. This decreases costs and is generally easier, except in more mature populations who will not be as familiar with computers. This makes data analysis easier; data collected on a computer can be quickly turned into computer statistical analysis. For instance, 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 data as it occurs, rather than rely on a later self-report. Human memory is fallible and the faster the details are entered the more likely it is precise. Some software immediately enters information, like programs measuring activity and sleep habits. More information still must be entered by hand (e.g., a food log) but could be done much more quickly and conveniently on a phone you carry on hand at all times. Technology also allows scientists to perform measurements in natural settings instead of being restricted 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 brain function of elementary school students inside their school rooms.

 

New Instruments

Technology has introduced new ways to gather data, some of which are vast advancements over older methods. For example, virtual reality tech allows scientists to gather data without actually going to a specific natural environment. Not only is this cheaper and more convenient, but it also eliminates certain ethical issues and attachment to self-report. Another example of new technology is a sensor that is placed on the skin to determine Galvanic Skin Response, a signal of stress. Additionally, the utilization of mobile devices allows measurement to occur almost anywhere with a lot more accuracy.

 

Databases

Storage technology has made it possible for the development of huge databases of data. Several of these catalog human behavior which can be used in the study of psychology. For example, databases possess facts about everything from crime figures to sleep deprivation. In addition, these databases collect info from a large and diverse population, making them well suited for satisfying validity concerns. This presents psychologists with huge stores of information in which to look into.

 

Improving Validity and Reliability

As technological know-how advances, instruments are created which allow research workers to obtain 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 inherently unreliable. New instruments that exhibit improved accuracy and accessibility are easier to replicate. Additionally, the greater the sample, the better 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 option when used for assessment and treatment reasons. Maybe most significantly, it has enabled a lot more people to get information and benefit from mental health services.