Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

How digital therapeutics can strengthen the provider-patient relationship and improve behavioral health outcomes

Benjamin Alouf, MD and Lara Jaradat, MD
Tech
November 2, 2021
Share
Tweet
Share

Research shows that early intervention in mental health conditions is critical for achieving better outcomes. Left unaddressed, conditions tend to progress. The depression will worsen. The anxiety will escalate. The disorder can intensify to the point where a child or teen can’t function, won’t get out of bed, may start self-medicating – and the list goes on.

Even though it could change the trajectory of an adolescents’ mental health condition, providers do not have adequate solutions to immediately, safely, and privately treat mental health needs. There remains a multitude of barriers that keep teens from accessing care where they need it and when they need it most. One of the most critical barriers is that there are simply not enough practitioners to meet the high demand for mental health services, creating long wait times for counseling appointments.

Adolescents may have an even harder time getting an appointment or keeping an appointment, since they must schedule around school and often rely on others for transportation. This particular patient population requires increased access to mental health care, yet much stands in the way.

To better meet the needs of patients, providers can improve access to treatment and offer more immediate solutions through the use of prescription digital therapeutics (PDTs). With technology, providers can now deliver programming aligned with proven mental health treatment methods, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, and connect teens and young adults to an immediate, safe, and effective treatment option.

Technology cannot replace good patient relationships, but the future of mental health care rests in leveraging technology that complements a clinician’s hands-on care. The last year and a half has underscored the need to shift rapidly and use new solutions in a meaningful way. People are becoming increasingly more receptive to telehealth and virtual treatment – especially teenagers and young adults. Now is the time for physicians to consider digital therapeutics to quickly and safely support their patients who need mental health treatment, intervening early to achieve better outcomes.

In recommending digital solutions to their patients facing mental health challenges, it is critical that clinicians feel confident in their recommendations. Unlike wellness apps, PDTs require strict compliance with FDA safety and efficacy standards and are validated through rigorous clinical trials. Upon FDA clearance, they can be prescribed by providers to treat specific medical conditions. Wellness apps aren’t required to meet these standards and typically do not undergo rigorous clinical testing, validation, or regulatory scrutiny. For mental health needs, PDTs can supplement other treatment modalities, including drug treatments and psychotherapy. Because PDTs are clinically-validated and evidence-based, providers can feel confident in their ability to support patients before their mental health conditions progress.

Importantly, PDTs are delivered to a patient on their own time and in the comfort of their own space. They are not time-consuming, with many programs designed to deliver the course of treatment over numerous weeks. Providing treatment solutions that meet the patient where they are can help to foster continued trust in the doctor-patient relationship.

The potential of PDTs in the mental health landscape is vast and will only continue to grow. As demand for psychotherapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, and even school counselors increase, PDTs unlock the possibility to support patients in a new way that complements providers’ work in the clinic. The use of PDTs will further strengthen the provider-patient relationship and lead to improved behavioral health outcomes.

Benjamin Alouf is a pediatrician. Lara Jaradat is a child and adolescent psychiatrist.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com

Prev

Practicing medicine as a Deaf physician is an uphill battle. COVID makes it worse.

November 2, 2021 Kevin 0
…
Next

How medical training teaches doctors to be financially unhealthy [PODCAST]

November 2, 2021 Kevin 0
…

Tagged as: Health IT, Mobile health, Psychiatry

Post navigation

< Previous Post
Practicing medicine as a Deaf physician is an uphill battle. COVID makes it worse.
Next Post >
How medical training teaches doctors to be financially unhealthy [PODCAST]

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

  • Digital health equity is an emerging gap in health

    Joshua W. Elder, MD, MPH and Tamara Scott
  • Osler and the doctor-patient relationship

    Leonard Wang
  • Are negative news cycles and social media injurious to our health?

    Rabia Jalal, MD
  • How social media can help or hurt your health care career

    Health eCareers
  • Sharing mental health issues on social media

    Tarena Lofton
  • The triad of health care: patient, nurse, physician

    Michele Luckenbaugh

More in Tech

  • 9 domains that will define the future of medical education

    Harvey Castro, MD, MBA
  • Key strategies for smooth EHR transitions in health care

    Sandra Johnson
  • Why flashy AI tools won’t fix health care without real infrastructure

    David Carmouche, MD
  • Why innovation in health care starts with bold thinking

    Miguel Villagra, MD
  • How self-improving AI systems are redefining intelligence and what it means for health care

    Harvey Castro, MD, MBA
  • How blockchain could rescue nursing home patients from deadly miscommunication

    Adwait Chafale
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • What the world must learn from the life and death of Hind Rajab

      Saba Qaiser, RN | Conditions
    • How medical culture hides burnout in plain sight

      Marco Benítez | Conditions
    • How the 10th Apple Effect is stealing your joy in medicine

      Neil Baum, MD | Physician
    • Why flashy AI tools won’t fix health care without real infrastructure

      David Carmouche, MD | Tech
    • Why Medicaid cuts should alarm every doctor

      Ilan Shapiro, MD | Policy
    • Key strategies for smooth EHR transitions in health care

      Sandra Johnson | Tech
  • Past 6 Months

    • Why tracking cognitive load could save doctors and patients

      Hiba Fatima Hamid | Education
    • How dismantling DEI endangers the future of medical care

      Shashank Madhu and Christian Tallo | Education
    • What the world must learn from the life and death of Hind Rajab

      Saba Qaiser, RN | Conditions
    • How scales of justice saved a doctor-patient relationship

      Neil Baum, MD | Physician
    • The broken health care system doesn’t have to break you

      Jessie Mahoney, MD | Physician
    • The silent toll of ICE raids on U.S. patient care

      Carlin Lockwood | Policy
  • Recent Posts

    • Why male fertility needs to be part of every health conversation

      Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian | Conditions
    • Why health care must adapt to meet the needs of older adults with disabilities

      Lynn A. Schaefer, PhD | Conditions
    • How doctors took back control from hospital executives

      Gene Uzawa Dorio, MD | Physician
    • Improving patient encounters: time-saving strategies for physicians [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • How art and science fueled one woman’s path to medicine

      Amy Avakian, MD | Physician
    • In a fractured world, Brian Wilson’s message still heals

      Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA | Physician

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

Leave a Comment

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • What the world must learn from the life and death of Hind Rajab

      Saba Qaiser, RN | Conditions
    • How medical culture hides burnout in plain sight

      Marco Benítez | Conditions
    • How the 10th Apple Effect is stealing your joy in medicine

      Neil Baum, MD | Physician
    • Why flashy AI tools won’t fix health care without real infrastructure

      David Carmouche, MD | Tech
    • Why Medicaid cuts should alarm every doctor

      Ilan Shapiro, MD | Policy
    • Key strategies for smooth EHR transitions in health care

      Sandra Johnson | Tech
  • Past 6 Months

    • Why tracking cognitive load could save doctors and patients

      Hiba Fatima Hamid | Education
    • How dismantling DEI endangers the future of medical care

      Shashank Madhu and Christian Tallo | Education
    • What the world must learn from the life and death of Hind Rajab

      Saba Qaiser, RN | Conditions
    • How scales of justice saved a doctor-patient relationship

      Neil Baum, MD | Physician
    • The broken health care system doesn’t have to break you

      Jessie Mahoney, MD | Physician
    • The silent toll of ICE raids on U.S. patient care

      Carlin Lockwood | Policy
  • Recent Posts

    • Why male fertility needs to be part of every health conversation

      Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian | Conditions
    • Why health care must adapt to meet the needs of older adults with disabilities

      Lynn A. Schaefer, PhD | Conditions
    • How doctors took back control from hospital executives

      Gene Uzawa Dorio, MD | Physician
    • Improving patient encounters: time-saving strategies for physicians [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • How art and science fueled one woman’s path to medicine

      Amy Avakian, MD | Physician
    • In a fractured world, Brian Wilson’s message still heals

      Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA | Physician

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

Leave a Comment

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...