IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v18y2021i16p8302-d609046.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Psychiatry in the Digital Age: A Blessing or a Curse?

Author

Listed:
  • Carl B. Roth

    (University Psychiatric Clinics Basel, Clinic for Adults, University of Basel, Wilhelm Klein-Strasse 27, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland)

  • Andreas Papassotiropoulos

    (University Psychiatric Clinics Basel, Clinic for Adults, University of Basel, Wilhelm Klein-Strasse 27, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
    Transfaculty Research Platform Molecular and Cognitive Neurosciences, University of Basel, Birmannsgasse 8, CH-4055 Basel, Switzerland
    Division of Molecular Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, University of Basel, Birmannsgasse 8, CH-4055 Basel, Switzerland
    Biozentrum, Life Sciences Training Facility, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 50/70, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland)

  • Annette B. Brühl

    (University Psychiatric Clinics Basel, Clinic for Adults, University of Basel, Wilhelm Klein-Strasse 27, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland)

  • Undine E. Lang

    (University Psychiatric Clinics Basel, Clinic for Adults, University of Basel, Wilhelm Klein-Strasse 27, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland)

  • Christian G. Huber

    (University Psychiatric Clinics Basel, Clinic for Adults, University of Basel, Wilhelm Klein-Strasse 27, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland)

Abstract

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Carl B. Roth & Andreas Papassotiropoulos & Annette B. Brühl & Undine E. Lang & Christian G. Huber, 2021. "Psychiatry in the Digital Age: A Blessing or a Curse?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-32, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:16:p:8302-:d:609046
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/16/8302/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/16/8302/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Rebecca A. Bernert & Amanda M. Hilberg & Ruth Melia & Jane Paik Kim & Nigam H. Shah & Freddy Abnousi, 2020. "Artificial Intelligence and Suicide Prevention: A Systematic Review of Machine Learning Investigations," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-25, August.
    2. DonHee Lee & Seong No Yoon, 2021. "Application of Artificial Intelligence-Based Technologies in the Healthcare Industry: Opportunities and Challenges," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(1), pages 1-18, January.
    3. Silke Bachmann, 2018. "Epidemiology of Suicide and the Psychiatric Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-23, July.
    4. Effy Vayena & Alessandro Blasimme & I Glenn Cohen, 2018. "Machine learning in medicine: Addressing ethical challenges," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(11), pages 1-4, November.
    5. Bo Runeson & Jenny Odeberg & Agneta Pettersson & Tobias Edbom & Ingalill Jildevik Adamsson & Margda Waern, 2017. "Instruments for the assessment of suicide risk: A systematic review evaluating the certainty of the evidence," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(7), pages 1-13, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Angelos I. Stoumpos & Fotis Kitsios & Michael A. Talias, 2023. "Digital Transformation in Healthcare: Technology Acceptance and Its Applications," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-44, February.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Ching Kwan & Clifford Wong & Zhansheng Chen & Paul S. F. Yip, 2022. "Youth Bullying and Suicide: Risk and Protective Factor Profiles for Bullies, Victims, Bully-Victims and the Uninvolved," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-20, February.
    2. Marcos Vinicius de Carvalho Mendes & Solange Laurentino dos Santos & Claudia Cristina Lima de Castro & Betise Mery Alencar Sousa Macau Furtado & Heitor Victor Veiga da Costa & Albanita Gomes da Costa , 2021. "Analysis of Factors Associated with the Risk of Suicide in a Brazilian Capital: Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-16, December.
    3. José Eduardo Rodríguez-Otero & Xiana Campos-Mouriño & David Meilán-Fernández & Sarai Pintos-Bailón & Graciela Cabo-Escribano, 2022. "Where is the social in the biopsychosocial model of suicide prevention?," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 68(7), pages 1403-1410, November.
    4. Supa Pengpid & Karl Peltzer, 2024. "Prevalence and correlates of psychological distress among national community-based adult populations in Nauru, Tukelau and Tuvalu," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 70(3), pages 437-444, May.
    5. Emilijus Žilinskas & Giedrė Žulpaitė & Kristijonas Puteikis & Rima Viliūnienė, 2021. "Mental Health among Higher Education Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Survey from Lithuania," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-14, December.
    6. Bauer, Annette & Knapp, Martin & Alvi, Mohsin & Chaudhry, Nasim & Gregoire, Alain & Malik, Abid & Sikander, Siham & Tayyaba, Kiran & Wagas, Ahmed & Husain, Nusrat, 2024. "Economic costs of perinatal depression and anxiety in a lower-middle income country: Pakistan," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 122650, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    7. Mashael Alsobhi & Harpreet Singh Sachdev & Mohamed Faisal Chevidikunnan & Reem Basuodan & Dhanesh Kumar K U & Fayaz Khan, 2022. "Facilitators and Barriers of Artificial Intelligence Applications in Rehabilitation: A Mixed-Method Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-21, November.
    8. Charlotte Blease & Anna Kharko & Cosima Locher & Catherine M DesRoches & Kenneth D Mandl, 2020. "US primary care in 2029: A Delphi survey on the impact of machine learning," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(10), pages 1-18, October.
    9. Claus Zippel & Sabine Bohnet-Joschko, 2021. "Rise of Clinical Studies in the Field of Machine Learning: A Review of Data Registered in ClinicalTrials.gov," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-14, May.
    10. Lepore, Dominique & Dolui, Koustabh & Tomashchuk, Oleksandr & Shim, Heereen & Puri, Chetanya & Li, Yuan & Chen, Nuoya & Spigarelli, Francesca, 2023. "Interdisciplinary research unlocking innovative solutions in healthcare," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    11. Dorota Lasota & Dagmara Mirowska-Guzel & Krzysztof Goniewicz, 2021. "Analysis of Suicide Methods and Substances Influencing the State of Consciousness of Their Victims in Poland," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-12, May.
    12. Abayomi Arowosegbe & Tope Oyelade, 2023. "Application of Natural Language Processing (NLP) in Detecting and Preventing Suicide Ideation: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-23, January.
    13. Nasrin Sultana & Ekaterina Turkina, 2023. "Collaboration for Sustainable Innovation Ecosystem: The Role of Intermediaries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-18, May.
    14. Ascensión Fumero & Rosario J. Marrero & Alicia Pérez-Albéniz & Eduardo Fonseca-Pedrero, 2021. "Adolescents’ Bipolar Experiences and Suicide Risk: Well-being and Mental Health Difficulties as Mediators," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-16, March.
    15. Julien Issa & Raphael Olszewski & Marta Dyszkiewicz-Konwińska, 2022. "The Effectiveness of Semi-Automated and Fully Automatic Segmentation for Inferior Alveolar Canal Localization on CBCT Scans: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-10, January.
    16. Irene Pisnoli & Ruth Van der Hallen, 2022. "Attitudes toward Suicide and the Impact of Client Suicide: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-10, April.
    17. Louise Brådvik, 2018. "Suicide Risk and Mental Disorders," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-4, September.
    18. Lily Popova Zhuhadar & Miltiadis D. Lytras, 2023. "The Application of AutoML Techniques in Diabetes Diagnosis: Current Approaches, Performance, and Future Directions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-24, September.
    19. Delahunty, Fionn & Arcan, Mihael & Johansson, Robert, 2019. "Passive Diagnosis of Mental Health Disorders Incorporating an Empathic Dialogue System," Thesis Commons 98c3q, Center for Open Science.
    20. Malosree Maitra & Haruka Mitsuhashi & Reza Rahimian & Anjali Chawla & Jennie Yang & Laura M. Fiori & Maria Antonietta Davoli & Kelly Perlman & Zahia Aouabed & Deborah C. Mash & Matthew Suderman & Nagu, 2023. "Cell type specific transcriptomic differences in depression show similar patterns between males and females but implicate distinct cell types and genes," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-18, December.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:16:p:8302-:d:609046. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.