Digital Mental Health Therapeutics: How Technology is Shaping the Future Well-Being
November 21, 2024
Contents
- What are digital therapeutics (DTx)?
- How do digital therapeutics work to improve mental well-being?
- Types of digital therapeutics
- The benefits of digital therapeutics
- The challenges and limitations of digital therapeutics
- Mindsum AI Chatbot
Mental health has always been a global concern but has gained increasing attention and importance in recent years. The impact of mental health on individuals and society is significant and should not be underestimated. According to the data from the World Health Organization (WHO), depression and anxiety disorders alone result in approximately 1 trillion USD in lost productivity each year.
Thanks to rapid advancements in digital technology, the field of digital health has grown significantly over the past decade, encompassing various areas such as mobile health (mHealth), health information technology (IT), wearable devices, telehealth and telemedicine, and personalised medicine. With the growth of these advanced digital tools, health monitoring and general wellness have expanded beyond the confines of hospitals and clinics into the digital realm.
In particular, digital technology is now being developed to effectively support mental health care and treatments. This development has led to the emergence of “digital therapeutics”, a new approach that uses algorithms and software to perform therapeutic functions.
What are digital therapeutics?
As one of the most promising and innovative areas within digital health, digital therapeutics (DTx) are evidence-based therapeutic interventions driven by software to prevent, manage, or treat a wide range of diseases and conditions, by employing a variety of digital implements, including mobile devices, apps, virtual reality, etc. In particular, DTx is a strong tool to improve mental health by providing patients with evidence-based therapeutic interventions to diagnose, treat, or prevent mental and behavioural health disorders. Clients can enjoy well-customised healthcare services that are tailored to fit their personal needs anytime, anywhere, without the need to visit a healthcare facility. DTx can be used alone or in conjunction with conventional treatments, such as medications, devices and other psychotherapies, to enhance the clinical outcomes.
You may wonder what makes DTx different from other wellness and fitness apps. According to the Digital Therapeutics Alliance (DTA), DTx programs are designed to deliver medical interventions directly to the clients and target specific disease conditions rather than tracking fitness, encouraging medication adherence, or monitoring activity as the other wellness programs usually do. As a result, rigorous testing is required, ensuring that DTx meets the same standards of evidence and regulatory approval as traditional medical treatments.
How do digital therapeutics work to improve mental well-being?
In general, DTx can serve either as a supplement or substitute for traditional medical treatments. As supplemental therapeutics, DTx can effectively enhance medical adherence by providing timely reminders for dosage and medication time via mobile apps and devices; alternatively, by replacing traditional medication, DTx can deliver targeted sensory stimuli to help manage conditions such as depression and insomnia.
DTx and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is an effective measure to treat a range of mental health disorders, especially depression and anxiety disorders. Such treatment focuses on identifying, challenging, and transforming unhelpful thought patterns, replacing them with more positive perspectives to foster healthier mindsets.
DTx programs that integrate CBT techniques can deliver an accessible and cost-effective way to improve mental well-being. In traditional CBT therapies, patients are encouraged to complete the “homework tasks” between the sessions to practice and reinforce new ways of thinking, ultimately achieving better therapy outcomes.
Integrating DTx into CBT therapies can make the self-monitoring process easier, which is particularly helpful for patients with mental health disorders characterised by lacking motivation and emotional disconnection (e.g., major depressive disorders). The digital application of CBT has also proven effective in treating insomnia, showing improvements in both sleep symptoms and overall mental well-being (a reduction of time to fall asleep, less time awake at night and better functioning the next day).
DTx and Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Artificial Intelligence (AI) plays an essential role in ensuring the effectiveness and adaptability of DTx, allowing it to deliver more individualised treatments and therapies for each patient by conducting a series of complex algorithms and data analyses. AI-powered DTx programs can do a better job of monitoring and correcting the treatment. Whilst traditional therapies mainly rely upon patients’ previous symptoms and conditions, the integration of AI will enable DTx to predict their future health conditions.
Here are examples of how AI is applied in DTx to improve mental health:
Abilify MyCite (aripiprazole tablets with sensor) is the first drug in the U.S. approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with a digital ingestion tracking system. When the patients take the pill, the embedded sensor sends a message to a wearable patch and then to a smartphone app. This allows the patients to better monitor their medication adherence and also allows caregivers or physicians to access the synchronised data through a web-based portal.
Abilify MyCite is an approved product for the treatment of schizophrenia (a chronic, severe, and disabling brain disorder), acute treatment of manic and mixed episodes associated with bipolar I disorder (a chronic mental disorder that elicits intense shifts in mood and energy level), as well as additional treatment for depression (a mental disorder that causes consistent loss of pleasure) in adults.
Validic is a healthcare company founded in 2010, which developed software that acts as a data-integration platform by collecting data on customers from every possible source, including wearable technology, mobile devices, and health applications. Validic’s software also provides electronic healthcare records (EHRs) to healthcare professionals, enabling easier incorporation of patients’ data, thus enhancing the clinical results by conducting real-time monitoring and providing timely interventions.
The data drawn from wearable devices and mental health apps that track mood, stress levels, and other psychological metrics can provide clinicians valuable insight into patients’ behavioural health, helping to identify potential factors that may have an impact on their psychological well-being.
Validic has collaborated with multiple healthcare systems, such as CVS Health, Mayo Clinic, and Kaiser Permanente, as well as various technology providers, to foster remote-care connectivity. These collaborations highlight Validic's credibility and suggest a promising future for the use of digital therapeutics (DTx) in mental health care.
Types of digital therapeutics
DTx can be divided into two major categories: preventive care or diagnostic DTx and treatment DTx. Preventive or diagnostic DTx can be used to identify some early signs or symptoms of the disorders, make diagnoses, and offer guidance to the patients, which mainly focuses on managing conditions in their early stages. In contrast, treating DTx, while sometimes also performing diagnostic functions, is primarily designed to actively address ongoing health conditions by providing therapeutic solutions. Health professionals will analyse diagnostic data collected by remote monitoring on the DTx platform to deliver targeted therapies.
Preventive care and diagnostic DTx
- Preventive care DTx: helps patients avoid the onset of disease by promoting targeted preventive practices and engaging them in clinically validated wellness activities.
- Diagnostic DTx: delivers valuable diagnostic information to support patients and healthcare providers in selecting treatment plans that improve clinical outcomes.
Here is an example of preventive care and diagnostic DTx in coping with mental health disorders:
Prevention of depression
SparkRX is designed for individuals aged 13 to 22 who exhibit symptoms of depression. It is a self-paced program that analyses users’ symptoms and helps them develop effective coping mechanisms by integrating unique AI technologies, such as mood assessment and personalised content delivery, that rely upon users’ interactions within the app. Although SparkRX cannot serve as a substitute for professional treatment, it is an effective tool to support young individuals and decrease the possibility for them to develop more severe depressive symptoms.
Treatment DTx
Treatment DTx is clinically effective both when being used as a standalone treatment or being combined with other therapies. Such type of DTx is rigorously developed and thus requires third-party validation of its safety and effectiveness by a regulatory agency or a comparable national organisation.
Here is an example of treatment DTx in treating different types of mental and behavioural health disorders:
Treating insomnia
Somryst is developed for individuals who suffer from persistent insomnia by delivering a nine-week prescription digital therapy. It is only accessible when being prescribed and closely supervised by licensed healthcare professionals. Somryst employs cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), which aims to challenge maladaptive behaviour, habits and dysfunctional ideas that worsen sleep disorders. The effectiveness of this treatment DTx program has been approved by studies, which suggest that over 40% of users no longer meet the insomnia criteria after receiving the treatment.
Treating PTSD
Freespira is a digital treatment approved by the FDA, which aims to teach users (above age 13) to normalise the respiratory abnormalities that contribute to anxiety episodes and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) over a 28-day program. Using a patented sensor, the system records users’ breathing patterns and other relevant physiological indicators, allowing them to self-monitor their progress on the tablet while receiving guidance from a personalised coach, which includes an at-home program with two daily 17-minute breathing workouts for a month, and four additional digital coaching classes per week.
The Benefits of DTx for Mental Health
Convenience and Timely Treatment
DTx allows individuals to access treatments anytime and anywhere, making it an ideal solution for those who may have trouble attending regular in-person appointments or therapies due to busy schedules, locations, or other personal constraints. Since DTx programs are not limited by time or location, patients can receive the necessary support exactly when they need it, which can prevent conditions from worsening and improve clinical outcomes.
Anonymity and Privacy
Social stigma and stereotypes surrounding various health, especially mental health problems (e.g., schizophrenia), could create social pressure that discourages individuals from seeking proper help or treatment. However, DTx can effectively address this problem by offering patients the option to receive treatment privately, such as at home or in other confidential settings. This level of anonymity can help individuals feel more comfortable accessing the care they need without the concerns of being judged or exposed.
Cost-effectiveness
Traditional counselling sessions, therapies, and medications can be costly, and not all patients are able or willing to pay for them. On the other hand, many DTx programs provide more affordable health treatment options and support, increasing accessibility and reaching a much broader range of patients who may not have had access to traditional care due to financial constraints.
Personalised approach
DTx programs can deliver treatments and support tailored to meet each individual’s unique needs by using data from users’ inputs. By continuously tracking users’ behavioural patterns and their interactive responses within the programs or apps, DTx can make more accurate decisions about the most suitable interventions for each user. This personalised approach not only improves user engagement but also helps optimise clinical outcomes by adapting to the user’s evolving needs.
The challenges and limitations of DTx
Data Privacy and Security Risks
Data protection is a major concern in evaluating DTx. European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) highlights that DTx collects and processes large volumes of sensitive personal data in a complex digital ecosystem, raising concerns about constant monitoring and the potential repurposing of patient profiles. Additionally, data processing is complex and involves multiple operating systems, potentially increasing the risks of enabling unauthorised access across devices and providers due to security flaws. Breaches of personal data could pose a significant threat to patients’ privacy.
Difficulties for broader adoption
Although DTx is recognized as an innovative and powerful tool in improving both physical and mental well-being, its adoption within the healthcare system remains limited. Two major challenges that DTx is facing should be considered. First, the digital health market is highly saturated, with more than 315,000 health-related applications available. This makes it difficult for both patients and medical professionals to distinguish between unverified programs and approved DTx programs, potentially undermining trust in digital health solutions. Second, integrating DTx in healthcare systems will require a significant increase in the workload of those healthcare providers, who may find it challenging to make adjustments in their workflows.
Mindsum AI Chatbot
At Mindsum, we have developed an AI chatbot that anyone can interact with for support without being charged any fee. Mindsum AI chatbot is a conversational bot powered by OpenAI and our custom-trained models. It is designed to provide emotional support, suggest coping strategies based on therapies like CBT, IPT, and DBT, and guide users through meditation techniques.
Mindsum AI chatbot also helps users find resources and materials to improve their mental well-being. It covers four major areas: mental health conditions, feelings and behaviours, support and assistance, and life transitions and challenges. Each area includes various subtopics, allowing users to navigate directly to the topics that they are interested in.