Content Creator - Alka Mariya
Content Editor - Ananya Anindita
Content Illustrator - Nysargi Karnam
The swift pace of technological advancement in recent years has undoubtedly had a significant impact on all spheres of our life. From online shopping apps and voice-controlled AI assistants to gadgets that can track our physiological functions, technology has indeed become an inseparable companion.
Therefore it is not surprising that technology has made remarkable strides in the field of healthcare too. ‘Digital therapeutics’ (DTx) can be described as innovative, software-based devices capable of preventing, managing, or treating a medical disorder or disease. The treatments may take the form of information or visual stimuli, for example, and are delivered via phone, computer, or other digital gadgets. Though initially met with skepticism, digital therapeutics are rapidly gaining pace as a convenient and reliable source of healthcare. Mental healthcare too has immensely benefited from digital therapeutics, especially in situations where access to offline professional help is minimal or non-existent. The recent Covid-19 pandemic has witnessed an increase in the use of digital therapeutics for the treatment of mental illnesses as one-to-one counseling sessions, school counseling sessions, appointments, physical training, etc. came to a halt overnight. The significant rise in mental distress and anxiety across the globe intensified the need for alternatives to traditional face-to-face counseling sessions. Thus several digital therapeutic tools have gained increased attention amid the pandemic. Some of those digital innovations has been explained below- VIRTUAL REALITY THERAPY Virtual reality (VR) is a simulated experience similar to or completely different from the real world. A person using virtual reality equipment can look around the artificial world, move around in it, and interact with virtual features or items. Studies have indicated that VR is an effective treatment method for certain phobias, PTSD, ADHD, schizophrenia, helps people with psychotic disorders experience less paranoia and anxiety in public settings, and reduce social anxiety. Exposure therapy is an effective treatment for anxiety disorders where patients are exposed to anxiety-inducing stimuli in a safe, controlled environment until triggers of the event no longer lead to anxiety. VR is considered to be a particularly successful method of exposure therapy. It is believed that the sensory and immersive nature of VR help PTSD patients get better faster than simply describing the trauma, and relapses are less frequent. VR enables the therapist to control the intensity of anxiety-provoking stimuli the patient is exposed to. Also, the whole setup can be personalized and themed as per the patient’s liking making it more comfortable and less intimidating for the patient. While research has established VR Therapy to be an efficacious mode of therapy, it is not yet widely used due to the high cost of VR Equipment and several other limiting factors. VIDEO GAMES Another example of Digital therapeutics is FDA approved prescription video game, EndeavorRX, developed by Akili Interactive Labs Inc. It is the first game-based therapeutic to be approved by the FDA for any condition and the first digital therapeutic approved for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). EndeavorRx is a prescription-only game designed to help improve attention in 8 to 12-year-olds with ADHD who have confirmed attention problems, and is often used in addition to therapy. Once a physician prescribes the game to a child with ADHD, the child should aim to complete five missions in the allotted time. After those five missions are complete, the game will not allow them to play any further missions until the following day. EndeavorRX has been proven to improve children’s attention spans and uses algorithms that customize the game in real-time to adjust the difficulty level depending on who is playing to personalize the treatment. It is also a fun, engaging, and child-friendly option and is usually enjoyed by children. Thus it improves treatment compliance which more than often is a significant issue among children. This mode of treatment has been very well received as it is a viable alternative to traditional drug therapy which may have side effects. Though it definitely has its drawbacks like video game addiction, the cons are minimal and will not affect the child as much as stimulants would. Pharmacological treatments for children have for long been controversial as these drugs often have side effects and children are frequently overprescribed. Thus parents are usually more receptive to such alternative treatments and prefer them over drugs or stimulants. Presently these games are only available to children. Though their full potential hasn’t yet been fully explored, it is certainly a promising development. Technological innovations such as these have indeed brought about a positive transformation in the field of mental health. These innovative treatment methods will enable patients to seek professional help despite geographical and other barriers without much hassle. While digital therapeutics have revolutionized mental healthcare, they continue to remain elusive in ordinary care scenarios as therapists are yet to adapt to these novel modes of treatment. As digital therapeutics continue to gain prominence, the future certainly looks bright for mental healthcare. References: https://www.verywellmind.com/a-new-video-game-has-been-approved-by-the-fda-to-treat-adhd-5069615 https://www.med-technews.com/medtech-insights/the-effect-of-lockdown-on-mental-health-and-how-vr-can-help/ https://etactics.com/blog/technology-for-mental-health https://www.sciencealert.com/the-fda-just-approved-the-first-prescription-video-game-for-kids-with-adhd https://www.med-technews.com/medtech-insights/vr-in-healthcare-insights/how-virtual-reality-is-aiding-mental-health-care/
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