If you’re tired of hearing about all the ways technology is bad for us, here’s some good news to consider: Prescription Digital Therapies (PDT) are among the latest digital health products that help increase access to quality healthcare.
Digital therapies, and physical therapy in general, are used to help prevent, treat, and manage a variety of mental and physical conditions through mobile devices like your smartphone. The difference between digital therapies and other health apps is that digital therapies are authorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and require a prescription from your healthcare provider (HCP).
Psychotherapy therapies offer unique options not traditionally seen in a typical office visit. Some psychotherapy therapies offer tailored treatments, such as a video game for ADHD and a wearable device that uses vibrations to interrupt nightmares. Other psychotherapy therapies use cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to help with conditions such as insomnia or irritable bowel syndrome. Evidence-based treatments backed by clinical research can be used alone or in combination with other treatments.
Currently FDA-approved photodynamic therapies apply to both mental and physical conditions. These include:
Photodynamic therapies may be especially helpful for women and people who were assigned female at birth, considering that many of these health conditions affect more women than men. For example, Women are almost twice as likely Depression is more often diagnosed than men. The latest photodynamic therapy approved by the FDA in April treats major depressive disorder.
Through the app, people are asked to identify and compare the emotions shown on a series of faces as part of cognitive-emotional training. Investigation It shows that this type of therapy can help stimulate parts of the brain involved in depression and have antidepressant effects.
Read: The transformative hope of new treatments for clinical depression >>
Psychoactive therapies may also be especially beneficial for people with substance use disorders. A recent study study A study of people with opioid use disorder, mostly women, found that those who used a PDT had significant reductions in health care visits, including hospital stays and trips to the emergency room.
Benefits of prescribing digital therapies
In addition to unique treatment options, PDT can offer benefits including:
- Convenience. You will be able to access the treatment at your own time, wherever you want.
- Access. People who have difficulty getting to the office in person can still get the care they need.
- Equality: Digital therapies that are based on a standard, evidence-based format ensure that people using them receive the same quality and level of care.
- Privacy: PDTs offer an option for people who feel stigma or shame about their health condition.
While photodynamic therapies can help increase access to quality care, health insurance coverage for photodynamic therapies can vary and insurance may not cover them at all. And despite the FDA approval, some experts say more research is needed before photodynamic therapies become a mainstay of the health care system.
If you are interested in PDT, talk to your healthcare provider about your options.
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