Future Technology 500

Mental states that only used to be altered for the better by drugs and surgery can now be enhanced with the use of technology. With an alternative method to change brain activity with the application of non-invasive brain stimulation, technology might become a significant factor in balancing activity in the brain of a depressed patient.

This technique works by using electrical or magnetic energy to stimulate the left and right hemispheres of the brain in patients diagnosed with depression. Moreover, this method is believed to be both effective and safe without the manifestation of side effects that can be experienced in treatments associated with drugs. Apart from these appealing qualities, this technology is also relatively cheaper than other existing treatments.

The technology known as transcranial direct current stimulation has been used on sixty-six early adult women who were not diagnosed with clinical depression. Results showed that this technique showed improvements in the moods or at least 64.7% of the total scores in the experiment manifested a reduction of negative mood states.

Today, questions have been raised if these types of techniques be applicable in what is known as “cosmetic mood enhancement. Since it can be readily accessible to a great number of people and is low in cost, there are several products available in the market that boast of the use of this technology. Also, there are already private clinics that offer a course in neurofeedback training.

Meanwhile, there is also some evidence that the effects of these alternative techniques are not far behind the effect of placebo and that efficacy is slim. But despite these issues, there are still people who are willing to try treatments like these even if they have not been proven to be effective.

Questions about Mood Modulation Technology

There have also been skepticisms about these cosmetic mood enhancements. Questions have been raised on how much the people are informed of the possible adverse effects of mood modulation technology and if the benefits really outweigh the drawbacks. Concerns over the possible dependence of an individual on the technique of brain stimulation just as a person becomes addicted to drugs and alcohol have been presented. Some also ask about the accountability of private clinics and manufacturers of mood enhancement products as well as their commitment to monitor potential harm and informing the public. The controversy on only the people with money can take advantage of this technology has also been mentioned.

Available Clinical Depression Treatments

A person suffering from depression can be treated with cognitive behavioral therapy which is part of a pathway of care. In some instances, these therapies will also be combined with drug treatments. Patients will be given serotonin re-uptake inhibitors to balance chemicals in the brain. If these methods prove to be ineffective, patients will be given other drugs with side effects. These side effects are what lead experts to consider alternative treatments such as the use of technology.

Conversely, deep brain stimulation is also done to help patients suffering from mood disorders. This involves drilling a hole into a patient’s skull to give way to fine electrodes that will work on the targeted area of the patient’s brain. Although this has been used in some patients with Parkinson’s disease, there are also risks involved.

Having said that, making use of technology as a better option to enhance the mood of patients and non-clinically depressed people is likely to happen in the near future. If this happens, more people will benefit from technological advancements.

Reference

http://theconversation.com/from-drugs-to-brain-surgery-the-consciousness-technology-of-the-future-60649

For many years, mental health care has been secondary to other forms of medical care in terms of focus and spending. In fact, many mental health institutions and research facilities have undergone cuts in recent years as resources have become more limited due to a number of factors. This means for those who suffer from mental health conditions such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder have fewer options for treatment today than they did a few years ago.

While mental health treatment appears to be on the stagnating in developed countries like the USA and Great Britain, it’s even worse in poorer countries where the emphasis is almost always on those with physical conditions. And those with mental issues have almost nowhere to turn. In some countries, as few as one in ten who suffer from mental illness gets any form of treatment.

However, it is true that mental health awareness has actually been on the rise thanks to the World Health Organization and other programs designed to build awareness and removing the stigma of mental issues, encouraging more money and research be devoted to this problem. Because of a number of outside factors, the focus on mental health may start paying dividends if the money devoted can match the renewed attention that it is currently receiving.

The Advancement of Technology

If there is a bright spot for those suffering from mental health issues, it is the advancement of technology which helps to bolster lower cost and more focused solutions, especially in countries that do not have the resources to use more traditional methods.

If necessity is the mother of invention, then we could be seeing technology-based solutions to assisting those with mental health problems by the use of mobile devices, especially smartphones.

Research at Oxford University for example has shown that voice-calls and SMS messaging services can be used to help assess the mental health status of a patient, to help deliver therapy and to make appropriate changes to their behavior as well. One such system is “Mobilyze!” from Chicago that uses 38 values in smartphone sensors along with other inputs to make predictions about the psychological status of a patient and to deliver customized therapy for those suffering from uni-polar depression.

The use of these mobile devices has helped revolutionize the manner in which such illnesses are evaluated, monitored and treated. This has been especially helpful in poorer countries that have no such facilities for traditional treatment programs.

The Future of Technology in Mental Health

In the near future, smartphones may be able to detect changes in the emotional state of a person based on their tone of voice and how they interact with others which will help determine the right amount of treatment that is needed. These types of advancements are not far away and it may be possible to assess the health of a person through a number of different states thanks to improved technology to monitor and report the changing conditions of the patient.

What is starting off as a small-scale effort could change the way we view how to treat mental illness with advancing technology that monitors a person’s behavior and transmitting that information to trained medical personnel who can then make the right diagnosis and treatment options.

External Relevant Link

http://www.theguardian.com/healthcare-network/2014/aug/12/technology-treat-mental-health-conditions