The technological revolution in mental health
Opportunities, challenges, and practical recommendations
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 17831969 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Yaakov Ophir (0000-0002-1598-2559, University of Cambridge, corresponding author), Hananel Rosenberg (0000-0002-7430-4520, Ariel University) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 13 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Publication date | 2026-01-16 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Humanities and Social Sciences Communications (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2662-9992 • E-ISSN: 2662-9992 |
| Publisher | Palgrave Macmillan (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1057/s41599-025-06441-z |
| OpenAlex | W7124420815 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 79 |
Recent advancements in communication technologies, virtual reality (VR), and artificial intelligence (AI) hold the potential to revolutionize the field of clinical psychology. What will this technological revolution entail? Will it alleviate the current mental health burden, or could it exacerbate issues that characterized the previous biomedical revolution? This article explores these questions from the joint perspective of researchers in Communication Studies and Clinical Psychology. Specifically, it provides an overview of four potentially transformative technologies: (1) AI-driven detection and diagnosis, (2) VR-based psychotherapy, (3) online therapy and counseling, and (4) AI-assisted psychotherapy. The article highlights key benefits and opportunities of these technologies (e.g., increased accessibility, democratization of services, and paradigm shifts) while also addressing major risks and challenges (e.g., diagnostic and treatment inflation, blurring of boundaries, and threats to privacy and autonomy). Concrete recommendations for clinicians, researchers, and policymakers are offered to guide the safe and effective implementation of technology in mental health
Democratization · Emerging technologies · Mental health · Technological revolution · Transformative learning · Digital Mental Health Interventions · Telemedicine and Telehealth Implementation · Virtual Reality Applications and Impacts
The role of the therapeutic alliance in psychotherapy.
Virtual reality in the assessment, understanding, and treatment of mental health disorders
Psychiatry beyond the current paradigm
Quantifying the global burden of mental disorders and their economic value
PTSD, depression, and anxiety after the October 7, 2023 attack in Israel
Suicide and suicide risk
A Call to Action on Assessing and Mitigating Bias in Artificial Intelligence Applications for Mental Health
The human side of human-chatbot interaction
Educators as news mediators
Online Peer Engagement in Adolescence
It’s only a computer
Beyond human expertise
Bored to death
Key Considerations for Incorporating Conversational AI in Psychotherapy
Waiting for a digital therapist
Qualitative Investigation into Therapists’ Experiences of Online Therapy
A virtual safe zone
Dress in Spartan Society
OMG, R U OK? Therapeutic Relationships between Caregivers and Youth at Risk on Social Media
Online Counseling
Risk factors for suicidal thoughts and behaviors
The association between adolescent well-being and digital technology use
British psychiatry in the 20th century - observations from a psychiatric journal
| Unique citing works | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 1 |
| Citation span | 2026 - 2026 (1) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 1 |