Psychiatry in the Digital Age: A Blessing or a Curse?
Social distancing and the shortage of healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic, the impact of population aging on the healthcare system, as well as the rapid pace of digital innovation are catalyzing the development and implementation of new technologies and digital services in psychiat...
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doaj-decc6b9e71534e3f98be6b82e9404f3c2021-08-26T13:48:36ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health1661-78271660-46012021-08-01188302830210.3390/ijerph18168302Psychiatry in the Digital Age: A Blessing or a Curse?Carl B. Roth0Andreas Papassotiropoulos1Annette B. Brühl2Undine E. Lang3Christian G. Huber4University Psychiatric Clinics Basel, Clinic for Adults, University of Basel, Wilhelm Klein-Strasse 27, CH-4002 Basel, SwitzerlandUniversity Psychiatric Clinics Basel, Clinic for Adults, University of Basel, Wilhelm Klein-Strasse 27, CH-4002 Basel, SwitzerlandUniversity Psychiatric Clinics Basel, Clinic for Adults, University of Basel, Wilhelm Klein-Strasse 27, CH-4002 Basel, SwitzerlandUniversity Psychiatric Clinics Basel, Clinic for Adults, University of Basel, Wilhelm Klein-Strasse 27, CH-4002 Basel, SwitzerlandUniversity Psychiatric Clinics Basel, Clinic for Adults, University of Basel, Wilhelm Klein-Strasse 27, CH-4002 Basel, SwitzerlandSocial distancing and the shortage of healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic, the impact of population aging on the healthcare system, as well as the rapid pace of digital innovation are catalyzing the development and implementation of new technologies and digital services in psychiatry. Is this transformation a blessing or a curse for psychiatry? To answer this question, we conducted a literature review covering a broad range of new technologies and eHealth services, including telepsychiatry; computer-, internet-, and app-based cognitive behavioral therapy; virtual reality; digital applied games; a digital medicine system; omics; neuroimaging; machine learning; precision psychiatry; clinical decision support; electronic health records; physician charting; digital language translators; and online mental health resources for patients. We found that eHealth services provide effective, scalable, and cost-efficient options for the treatment of people with limited or no access to mental health care. This review highlights innovative technologies spearheading the way to more effective and safer treatments. We identified artificially intelligent tools that relieve physicians from routine tasks, allowing them to focus on collaborative doctor–patient relationships. The transformation of traditional clinics into digital ones is outlined, and the challenges associated with the successful deployment of digitalization in psychiatry are highlighted.https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/16/8302psychiatrydigitalizationtelemedicinecomputer-based cognitive behavioral therapyapp-based cognitive behavioral therapyvirtual reality |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Carl B. Roth Andreas Papassotiropoulos Annette B. Brühl Undine E. Lang Christian G. Huber |
spellingShingle |
Carl B. Roth Andreas Papassotiropoulos Annette B. Brühl Undine E. Lang Christian G. Huber Psychiatry in the Digital Age: A Blessing or a Curse? International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health psychiatry digitalization telemedicine computer-based cognitive behavioral therapy app-based cognitive behavioral therapy virtual reality |
author_facet |
Carl B. Roth Andreas Papassotiropoulos Annette B. Brühl Undine E. Lang Christian G. Huber |
author_sort |
Carl B. Roth |
title |
Psychiatry in the Digital Age: A Blessing or a Curse? |
title_short |
Psychiatry in the Digital Age: A Blessing or a Curse? |
title_full |
Psychiatry in the Digital Age: A Blessing or a Curse? |
title_fullStr |
Psychiatry in the Digital Age: A Blessing or a Curse? |
title_full_unstemmed |
Psychiatry in the Digital Age: A Blessing or a Curse? |
title_sort |
psychiatry in the digital age: a blessing or a curse? |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health |
issn |
1661-7827 1660-4601 |
publishDate |
2021-08-01 |
description |
Social distancing and the shortage of healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic, the impact of population aging on the healthcare system, as well as the rapid pace of digital innovation are catalyzing the development and implementation of new technologies and digital services in psychiatry. Is this transformation a blessing or a curse for psychiatry? To answer this question, we conducted a literature review covering a broad range of new technologies and eHealth services, including telepsychiatry; computer-, internet-, and app-based cognitive behavioral therapy; virtual reality; digital applied games; a digital medicine system; omics; neuroimaging; machine learning; precision psychiatry; clinical decision support; electronic health records; physician charting; digital language translators; and online mental health resources for patients. We found that eHealth services provide effective, scalable, and cost-efficient options for the treatment of people with limited or no access to mental health care. This review highlights innovative technologies spearheading the way to more effective and safer treatments. We identified artificially intelligent tools that relieve physicians from routine tasks, allowing them to focus on collaborative doctor–patient relationships. The transformation of traditional clinics into digital ones is outlined, and the challenges associated with the successful deployment of digitalization in psychiatry are highlighted. |
topic |
psychiatry digitalization telemedicine computer-based cognitive behavioral therapy app-based cognitive behavioral therapy virtual reality |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/16/8302 |
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