Mental Health Treatment Get Technology Boost
We live in a world of ones and zeros. The binary code that makes up the Metaverse is an infinitely complex paradigm with near-limitless applications. One of many fields benefiting from these dramatic technological advances is mental health and wellness. The world has witnessed a tectonic shift from bricks and mortar to digital. This is true of e-commerce, education, employment, and engagement. Beyond the basics, we are seeing great strides towards a technology-based approach to mental health and wellness.
Online Mental Health Counseling
The introduction of online mental health counseling services has taken off in a big way. Numerous companies such as Teledoc, Better Help, and MD Live now offer mental health counseling for an array of disorders, including MDD (Major Depressive Disorder), GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorder), and OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder). While remote consultations have limitations, such as limited practical efficacy for severe psychiatric conditions, remote assistance offers tremendous benefits. There has been a substantial uptick in online consultations with for a variety of mental health disorders since 2020. These trends continue, but mainly due to convenience and cost-effectiveness.
Deep TMS & rTMS Treatments for MDD and OCD
Beyond online therapy, technology provides unbridled potential for treating mental health disorders. One of the breakthrough treatments to emerge in recent years is Deep TMS. Like the traditional TMS treatment, known as rTMS, Deep TMS“™” also treats affected brain areas through the internal neural pathways. In addition, it uses different equipment, notably a 3D H-Coil helmet design, which reaches a depth of 1.25 inches as opposed to the rTMS figure-8 coil, which only reaches a depth of 0.27 inches.
This is a notable technological advantage. With TMS – transcranial magnetic stimulation – the treatment is designed to regulate neural activity and bring about improved mood. These magnetic fields are far more effective when administered through Deep TMS technology than traditional rTMS. It’s a technological wunderkind in terms of its ability to stimulate those problematic areas of the brain and bring about a productive response. Deep TMS received FDA clearance in 2013 for the treatment of MDD and in 2018 for OCD. The FDA later cleared it for short-term smoking cessation in 2020.
Other Areas Where Technology is Used for Treating Mental Health Disorders
EEG-Biofeedback
This is a method for treating mental health disorders that uses brainwave technology. The aim is to help patients control their thoughts and emotions by providing real-time feedback about their brain activity. EEG biofeedback helps them understand how their thoughts and emotions affect their body and mind and ultimately make better choices about reacting to stressful situations.
Robotic Therapy
Robotic therapy is another promising area of treatment for mental health disorders. This type of therapy uses robots to interact with patients in a designed way to help them overcome their disorders. One example of this is the social robot NAO, used to treat children with autism. The robot is designed to mimic human emotions and can be used to teach children how to express themselves and interact with others.
Virtual Reality
Virtual reality (VR) is another area where technology is being used to treat mental health disorders. For example, therapists can use VR to provide exposure therapy, a type of treatment that helps people overcome their fears by gradually exposing them to the things they are afraid of in a safe environment. Medical professionals can also use VR to help people with PTSD relive their trauma in a controlled setting to work through their memories and start to heal.
Summary of How Technology Advances Treatments for Mental Health
Technology has the potential to revolutionize mental healthcare. In this rapidly developing digital world, there are several ways in which mental health professionals can use technology to improve mental health treatments.
1. Online mental health counseling services provide patients with access to treatment with home comforts.
2. Deep TMS is a cutting-edge treatment for mental health disorders that uses magnetic fields in a specialized helmet design to stimulate deeper areas of the brain.
3. EEG-biofeedback helps patients control their thoughts and emotions by providing real-time feedback about their brain activity.
4. Robotic therapy uses robots to interact with patients in a way that is designed to help them overcome their disorders.
5. Virtual reality exposure therapy helps people overcome their fears by gradually exposing them to the things they are afraid of in a safe environment.
