Class Technological Innovation and Mental Health

This curricular unit offers a comprehensive program on the relationship between technological innovation and mental health, covering multiple assessment and intervention tools such as virtual reality, neuromodulation, and wearables. It critically reflects not only on the benefits and the state of the art of technology use in the mental health context but also on its negative impacts, including ethical and legal risks. Given the exponential technological evolution in recent decades, the paradigm shift in healthcare delivery after the pandemic, and the growing role of artificial intelligence in society, it becomes essential for future psychologists to stay updated and be prepared to integrate and manage the use of technology in their professional practice.

Not applicable

S1. Risks of Technological Innovation for Mental Health Digital dependency and its impact on mental health Social media's effect on mental health Preventive and interventional strategies for adverse technological effects   S2. Foundations of Technological Innovation in Mental Health Basic concepts: e-Health, m-Health, telepsychology, AI, chatbots, augmented/virtual reality Taxonomy of digital interventions: self-managed vs. professionally mediated Benefits and challenges of digital technologies in mental health   S3. Digital Tools for Assessment, Prevention, and Intervention Mobile apps and wearables for mental health monitoring Online interventions, telerehabilitation, chatbots, and virtual reality Digital phenotyping and personalized treatments   S4. Ethics, Privacy, and Digital Literacy Privacy and data security in digital tools Ethical and effective communication in mental health technologies Equity and accessibility challenges for vulnerable populations

Evaluation based on the development of podcast episodes by students, with the subsequent facilitation of a discussion forum on the episodes through Moodle (peer feedback) Practical exercises and fieldwork involving the experimentation of multiple technological approaches currently applied in the field of mental health, namely virtual reality, non-invasive neuromodulation, and the use of mobile applications. Practical exercises based on self-reflection on the use of technology.   

American Psychological Association (2024). Proposed Revision of Guidelines for the Practice of Telepsychology. Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/practice/guidelines/telepsychology-revisions.pdf   Potenza, M. N., Faust, K. A., & Faust, D. (2020). The Oxford handbook of digital technologies and mental health. Oxford University Press.   Woo, S. E., Tay, L., & Proctor, R. W. (2020). Big data in psychological research. American Psychological Association.