Wearable technology in mental healthcare
This article, written in Dutch, discusses the emergence and potential of wearable technology in mental healthcare, with attention to possible applications in therapeutic and preventive settings.
Abstract
This article explores the emergence of mobile and wearable technology in mental healthcare. After situating m-health as a specific form of e-health, wearables are described as a rapidly growing category of body-worn sensors and devices that can collect physiological data in a minimally invasive way, including heart activity, heart rate variability, respiration, skin conductance, and movement. Although such technology has already been used for some time in other contexts, such as general healthcare and sports support, its application in mental healthcare remains relatively limited. The aim of this article is therefore to provide an overview of the current opportunities and pitfalls of wearables in mental healthcare, with particular attention to the role of clinical psychologists. Finally, the article offers a forward-looking perspective by describing several applications that illustrate what wearable technology may mean for clinical practice in the near future.
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Reference
Van Daele, T. & Vanhoomissen, T. (2015). Draagbare technologie in de geestelijke gezondheidszorg. Tijdschrift Klinische Psychologie, 45(1), 9-14.