Digital transformation of mental health therapy by integrating digitalized cognitive behavioral therapy and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing.

This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of digital psychotherapy for PTSD treatment and highlights the opportunities and challenges in this rapidly evolving field.

Article Abstract

“Digital therapy has gained popularity in the mental health field because of its convenience and accessibility. One major benefit of digital therapy is its ability to address therapist shortages. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating mental health condition that can develop after an individual experiences or witnesses a traumatic event. Digital therapy is an important resource for individuals with PTSD who may not have access to traditional in-person therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) are two evidence-based psychotherapies that have shown efficacy in treating PTSD. This paper examines the mechanisms and clinical symptoms of PTSD as well as the principles and applications of CBT and EMDR. Additionally, the potential of digital therapy, including internet-based CBT, video conferencing-based therapy, and exposure therapy using augmented and virtual reality, is explored. This paper also discusses the engineering techniques employed in digital psychotherapy, such as emotion detection models and text analysis, for assessing patients’ emotional states. Furthermore, it addresses the challenges faced in digital therapy, including regulatory issues, hardware limitations, privacy and security concerns, and effectiveness considerations. Overall, this paper provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of digital psychotherapy for PTSD treatment and highlights the opportunities and challenges in this rapidly evolving field.”

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Wu, J-Y., Tsai, Y-Y., Chen, Y-J., Hsiao, F-C., Hsu, C-H., Lin, Y-F., & Liao, L-D. (2024). Digital transformation of mental health therapy by integrating digitalized cognitive behavioral therapy and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing. Medical & Biological Engineering & Computing. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11517-024-03209-6