Digital Technologies for Psychiatric Mental Health Disorders

Psychiatry is the branch of medical science concerned with the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental health disorders. These disorders are conventionally divided into three general categories, namely, mental illnesses, severe learning disabilities, and personality disorders. There are various sub-specialties of psychiatry including addiction psychiatry, child and adolescent psychiatry, clinical neurophysiology, geriatric psychiatry, and sleep medicine. Psychiatrists use a variety of treatments for managing mental health disorders depending on the needs of each patient. Some of the treatment methods are psychotherapy, and medications such as antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, and antidepressants. Psychotherapy is a type of treatment that involves a talking relationship between a therapist and a patient. Cognitive behavior therapy, and family therapy or group counselling are some forms of psychotherapy. Digital technologies such as mobile devices, telepsychiatry applications, and web-enabled interventions delivered through online platforms are also used for diagnosing, screening, treating, and providing education or facilitating self-management of mental disorders. The book aims to shed light on some of the unexplored aspects of the application of digital technologies for the management of mental health disorders. It will prove to be immensely beneficial to medical students and practitioners of psychiatry.