It is important that mental health professionals and health professionals seek newer approaches and methods to complement the current standard of care.
The unprecedented increase in mental health cases brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic has flooded the health system. There are approximately 20,000 mental health applications that deal with mental health,1 but despite the introduction and increased use of digital technologies to manage mental health care, almost a quarter (24.7%) of all adults with mental illness said they were unable to receive the necessary treatment.2
Adding to the wound, studies show that approximately 23% of users leave mobile applications after just one use. This implies that a significant number of users of mental health applications will not adhere to portable treatment options.
Although there are several aspects of unmet need, such as the lack of available treatments and the lack of psychiatrists, we can be sure that as long as a significant portion of the population does not receive care, something must change.
The need for fundamentally different solutions that go beyond digitization is something that has been discussed in detail in the past. The The Digital Mental Health Revolution: Transforming Care through Innovation and Enhancement The report, which includes contributions from Dr. Tom Insel, former director of the National Institute of Mental Health, calls for new technologies that combine the best of clinical science and consumer engagement. Specifically, the report encourages that mental health care must return to basic “active ingredients” and “then use the full potential of digital technology and practitioners to create current, adaptable and scalable services.”
With this in mind, it is important that mental health professionals and health professionals seek newer approaches and methods to complement the current standard of care — pharmacotherapy or psychotherapy provided in person or through a telehealth regimen. By doing so, clinicians will be able to improve outcomes, close the efficiency gap, accelerate care effectiveness, and be in a better position to treat patients who need it.
Treating the symptoms is not the answer
Mental health treatment options today provide a wide range of approaches to meet different needs. Certain approaches may try to target some basic contributions to mental health problems in an attempt to approach basic problems.
The standard biopsychosocial model takes into account the influence of biology, psychology and environmental factors that contribute to the development of mental disorders. While admirable in their efforts to adhere to biopsychosocial paradigms, current standard approaches to care in the treatment of mental disorders could be further improved by addressing several key elements that limit their effectiveness.
One such limitation is the general lack of information on the mechanism of action of some psychiatric drugs. Although some drugs are prescribed in a trial-and-error format, a deeper understanding of the underlying problems can improve this process.
Mental health professionals need all the help they can get to provide better care. By adding new tools and technologies to the mix that - in tandem with current treatment methods - expand their bandwidth to treat more patients or enable them to provide adequate care more quickly, we will be in a better position to achieve improved results.
Go deeper with biomarkers specific to the brain region
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is an effective way for non-invasive and accurate analysis of brain region function. Unfortunately, fMRI is not widely available or scalable, as the technology is extremely expensive. As a result, therapeutic modalities, such as the delivery of neurofeedback by fMRI, cannot be practiced on a large scale in clinics.
With this in mind, recent advances that use machine learning to merge EEG and fMRI spatial data now allow research teams to produce EEG-calculated biomarkers filled with fMRI spatial data. This, in turn, allows teams to economically and widely measure significant and revealing brain biomarkers.
In addition, with such a new therapeutic modality, patients will be able to experience and even influence the progress of treatment in real time. With current treatment methods, patients rarely have the opportunity to directly influence their care process other than the patient’s hard work or adherence to medical regimens.
New solutions that work together with fMRI-EEG technology are changing the healing process. By receiving real-time neurological feedback, patients can see their brain regulatory status and consequently make conscious adjustments. By allowing patients to take on more significant roles in their care trips, they gain a greater sense of control, which can be both inspiring and promising.
Using brain biomarkers, clinicians could eventually measure pathological bodily processes. Combined with current solutions, this greater understanding can increase the ability to predict clinical outcomes.
Using this approach, service providers will better understand regions of the brain that correlate with emotional dysregulation in patients with mental disorders. As a result, more customized treatment options will be available for use, giving clinicians the opportunity to provide more comprehensive care.
New solutions enable new results
With patients of varying levels of mental health severity in need of treatment, it is time to add a new layer to mental health treatment. By introducing new solutions that complement current therapies and introduce a deeper understanding of the underlying brain regions responsible for mental health disorders, clinicians will be better equipped to improve clinical outcomes and enable patients to gain control over their lives.
By speeding up and improving the care process and providing clinicians with a broader set of tools, clinicians will be able to care for more patients and achieve improved clinical outcomes, helping to alleviate the current burden on mental health. Using agency-based modalities, patients become part of their own treatment regimen, giving themselves the opportunity for better care and health care outcomes.
About the author
Oded Kraft is the CEO and co-founder of GrayMatters Health.
References
1. Mental health applications are on the rise - but it’s important to choose the right one. ECAlliance. https://echalliance.com/mental-health-apps-are-seeing-a-surge-of-downloads-but-choosing-the-right-one-matters/. October 20, 2020. Accessed May 31, 2022.
2. The state of mental health in America. Mental Health America. https://www.mhanational.org/issues/state-mental-health-america. Retrieved May 31, 2022.