Digital Technologies for Schizophrenia Management: A Descriptive Review

• Published in: Science and engineering ethics Vol. 27; no. 2; p. 25
• Main Authors: Chivilgina, Olga, Elger, Bernice S., Jotterand, Fabrice
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.04.2021; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering; Conflicts of interest; Digital Technology; Education; Engineering; Ethics; Health care; Health policy; Health services; Humans; Medicine/Public Health; Mental disorders; Mental Health; Messaging systems; Original Research/Scholarship; Patients; Philosophy; Philosophy of Science; Psychiatry; Rural areas; Rural housing; Schizophrenia; Schizophrenia - therapy; Smart buildings; Smartphones; Software development; Sustainable development; Technology assessment; Telemedicine; Wearable technology
• ISSN: 1353-3452; 1471-5546; 1471-5546
• DOI: 10.1007/s11948-021-00302-z

While the implementation of digital technology in psychiatry appears promising, there is an urgent need to address the implications of the absence of ethical design in the early development of such technologies. Some authors have noted the gap between technology development and ethical analysis and have called for an upstream examination of the ethical issues raised by digital technologies. In this paper, we address this suggestion, particularly in relation to digital healthcare technologies for patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. The introduction of digital technologies in psychiatry offers a broad spectrum of diagnostic and treatment options tailored to the health needs and goals of patients’ care. These technologies include wearable devices, smartphone applications for high-immersive virtual realities, smart homes, telepsychiatry and messaging systems for patients in rural areas. The availability of these technologies could increase access to mental health services and improve the diagnostics of mental disorders. Additional Instruction Abstract In this descriptive review, we systematize ethical concerns about digital technologies for mental health with a particular focus on individuals suffering from schizophrenia. There are many unsolved dilemmas and conflicts of interest in the implementation of these technologies, such as (1) the lack of evidence on efficacy and impact on self-perception; (2) the lack of clear standards for the safety of their daily implementation; (3) unclear roles of technology and a shift in the responsibilities of all parties; (4) no guarantee of data confidentiality; and (5) the lack of a user-centered design that meets the particular needs of patients with schizophrenia. mHealth can improve care in psychiatry and make mental healthcare services more efficient and personalized while destigmatizing mental health disorders. To ensure that these technologies will benefit people with mental health disorders, we need to heighten sensitivity to ethical issues among mental healthcare specialists, health policy makers, software developers, patients themselves and their proxies. Additionally, we need to develop frameworks for furthering sustainable development in the digital technologies industry and for the responsible usage of such technologies for patients with schizophrenia in the clinical setting. We suggest that digital technology in psychiatry, particularly for schizophrenia and other serious mental health disorders, should be integrated into treatment with professional supervision rather than as a self-treatment tool.