Application of Smartphone Technology in the Management and Treatment of Mental Illnesses

Abstract: Background: Mental illness continues to be a significant Public Health problem and the innovative use of technology to improve the treatment of mental illnesses holds great public health relevance. Over the past decade telecommunications technology has been used to increase access to and improve the quality of mental health care. There is current evidence that the use of landline and cellular telephones, computer-assisted therapy, and videoconferencing can be effective in improving treatment outcomes. Smartphones, as the newest development in communications technology, offer a new opportunity to improve mental health care through their versatile nature to perform a variety of functions. Methods: A critical literature review was performed to examine the potential of smartphones to increase access to mental health care, reduce barriers to care, and improve patient treatment outcomes. The review was performed by searching several electronic databases using a combination of keywords related to smartphones and mental health interventions using mobile devices. Literature concerning the use of cell phones, handheld computers, and smartphones to improve access to mental health care and improve treatment outcomes was identified.Results: The majority of studies identified were feasibility and pilot studies on patients with a variety of diagnosed mental illnesses using cell phones and PDAs. Authors report that most study participants, with some exceptions, were capable of using a mobile device and found them acceptable to use. Few studies extensively measured treatment outcomes and instead reported preliminary results and presented case illustrations. Studies which used smartphones successfully used them collect data on patients and deliver multimedia interventions. Discussion: The current literature offers encouraging evidence for the use of smartphones to improve mental health care but also reflects the lack of research conducted using smartphones. Studies which examine care provider use of smartphones to improve care is encouraging but has limited generalizability to mental health care. The feasibility of patient use of smartphones is also encouraging, but questions remain about feasibility in some sub-populations, particularly schizophrenia patients. Pilot testing of mobile devices and applications can greatly increase the feasibility of using smartphones in mental health care. Patients who are unfamiliar with smartphones will likely need initial training and support in their use. Conclusion: The literature identified several ways in which smartphones can increase access to care, reduce barriers, and improve treatment outcomes. Study results were encouraging but scientifically weak. Future studies are needed replicating results of studies using cell phones and PDAs on smartphones. Larger and higher quality studies are needed to examine the feasibility, efficacy, and cost-effectiveness of smartphones to deliver multiple component interventions that improve access to mental health care and improve treatment outcomes

Spartan Daily, December 4, 1995

Volume 105, Issue 64https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/spartandaily/8779/thumbnail.jp

Gametherapy: Playing Computer and Mobile Games for Problem Solving

The purpose of this theoretical study is to indicate that when gametherapy or game play therapy is applied, it can be of benefit to game players in giving them insight into their problems, resulting in a change of behavior or attitude. Gametherapy is a developmentally responsive intervention used by psychotherapists, psychologists, counselors, child therapists, medical and rehabilitation professionals, health care practitioners, and often parents as well; but often criticized for lacking an adequate research base to support its growing practice. Game play therapy can appear equally effective across age, gender, and presenting issue. Gametherapy, which can be conducted with individuals or groups, refers to the use of computer and mobile games to assist clients (especially children and young adults) in their healing process. It may be defined as the use of computer and mobile games to help others gain additional insight and to help them cope with everyday life. Most people have probably use games to determine how others have approached a delicate issue. This study suggests that gametherapy is a potentially powerful method for psychologists, counselors, librarians, school teachers, and parents to use on many levels. It begins with various definitions of gametherapy, continues with a discussion of some approaches to gametherapy (developmental, clinical, and interactive), then addresses the four basic stages of gametherapy (identification, selection, presentation, and follow-up), and finally discusses the benefits and limitations of gametherapy

How Do Patients Understand Safety for Cardiac Implantable Devices? Importance of Postintervention Education

This study was designed to assess the effect of patient education on the knowledge of safety and awareness about living with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) within the context of phase I cardiac rehabilitation. Methods. The study was conducted with 28 newly implanted CIED patients who were included in "education group (EG)". Patients were questioned with a survey about living with CIEDs and electromagnetic interference (EMI) before and 1month after an extensive constructed interview. Ninety-three patients who had been living with CIEDs were included in the "without education group (woEG)". Results. Patients in EG had improved awareness on topics related to physical and daily life activities including work, driving, sports and sexual activities, EMI of household items, harmful equipment, and some of the medical devices in the hospital setting (p<0.05). Patients in EG gave significantly different percent of correct answers for doing exercise or sports, using the arm on the side of CIEDs, EMI of some of the household appliances, medical devices, and all of the harmful equipment compared to woEG (p<0.05). Conclusion. It was demonstrated that a constructed education interview on safety of CIEDs and living with these devices within the context of phase I cardiac rehabilitation is important for improving the awareness of patients significantly. Thus, patients might achieve a faster adaptation to daily life and decrease disinformation and misperceptions and thus promote the quality of life after the device implantation

THE NEW GLOBALIZATION ERA AND DIGITALIZATION DEBATE: AN ECONOMISTS PERSPECTIVE

During the post-world war 11 period, industrialization was an irresistable trend, made global by the dynamics of international markets.Today, the industrial siciety faces the risks created by its own success. Its growth has been accompanied by a voracious use of natural resources and by increasing inequalities(insecurites)between industrial countries and the rest of the world. Infact, Industrialization to date has been based on energy and it has been and continues to be based on the burning of fossil fuels and the attendant emission of carbon dioxide, which can cause climate change. Thus, a vision of a new society in which humans live in harmony with each other and with nature is very imperative. This transition is described as digitalization(or knowledge revolution) driven by knowledge and by the technologies for processing and communicating it). This therefore requires new institutions and policies to reach a sustainable outcome by 2050.globalization digitalization knowledge revolution inequalities industrialization information emmissions insecurities

The Experiences of Women Who Live with an Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (lCD)

The implantable cardioverter defibrillator (lCD) is the most effective treatment available for terminating potentially life-threatening ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia. The lCD detects and attempts to correct these arrhythmias by pacing, cardioversion, and defibrillation thereby providing lifesaving therapy to patients at risk for sudden cardiac death. Currently, 150,000 Americans receive ICDs each year. Although most lCD recipients are men, more women are now qualifying for insertion (Stutts, Cross, Conti, & Sears, 2007). Despite its established health benefits, lCD implantation is accompanied by psychological factors which merit research attention. This study investigated the experiences of women who live an lCD. The homogenous, purposeful sample consisted of 15 women who had an lCD that was implanted within the last three years and were receiving follow-up treatment at the same north Florida clinic. Data collection was accomplished through a semi-structured interview specific to the areas of pre-implantation, immediate post-implantation, and discharge home. Results were transcribed verbatim and then analyzed. Five core themes emerged from the transcripts along with multiple subcategories. The main themes included: Psychological Reactions, Physical Comfort, Procedural Issues, Body Image, and Feelings Regarding a Shock. Information obtained from this research is beneficial to nurses providing care to women with ICDs and to primary care advanced nurse practitioners in order to improve the overall health outcome and ongoing care of these women

Spartan Daily, November 29, 2000

Volume 115, Issue 60https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/spartandaily/9627/thumbnail.jp

The therapeutic potential of exercise to improve mood, cognition, and sleep in Parkinson's disease

Published in final edited form as: Mov Disord. 2016 January ; 31(1): 23–38. doi:10.1002/mds.26484.In addition to the classic motor symptoms, Parkinson's disease (PD) is associated with a variety of nonmotor symptoms that significantly reduce quality of life, even in the early stages of the disease. There is an urgent need to develop evidence‐based treatments for these symptoms, which include mood disturbances, cognitive dysfunction, and sleep disruption. We focus here on exercise interventions, which have been used to improve mood, cognition, and sleep in healthy older adults and clinical populations, but to date have primarily targeted motor symptoms in PD. We synthesize the existing literature on the benefits of aerobic exercise and strength training on mood, sleep, and cognition as demonstrated in healthy older adults and adults with PD, and suggest that these types of exercise offer a feasible and promising adjunct treatment for mood, cognition, and sleep difficulties in PD. Across stages of the disease, exercise interventions represent a treatment strategy with the unique ability to improve a range of nonmotor symptoms while also alleviating the classic motor symptoms of the disease. Future research in PD should include nonmotor outcomes in exercise trials with the goal of developing evidence‐based exercise interventions as a safe, broad‐spectrum treatment approach to improve mood, cognition, and sleep for individuals with PD.This work was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health (F31MH102961 to G.O.R.)