Open AccessDigital technology for management of severe mental disorders in low-income and middle-income countries
Author(s) -
Rutvij Merchant,
John Torous,
Elena Rodriguez-Villa,
John A. Naslund
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
current opinion in psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.66
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1473-6578
pISSN - 0951-7367
DOI - 10.1097/yco.0000000000000626
Subject(s) - psychological intervention , telemedicine , mhealth , medicine , mental health , population , digital health , telehealth , low and middle income countries , health care , digital divide , pandemic , business , nursing , developing country , environmental health , covid-19 , psychiatry , information and communications technology , economic growth , computer science , pathology , economics , disease , world wide web , infectious disease (medical specialty)
Increasingly, digital technologies, especially mobile telecommunications and smartphone apps, are seen as a novel tool for managing severe mental disorders (SMDs) in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). However, there is a need to identify best practices in the use of digital technologies to effectively reach, support, and manage care for patients living with SMDs. In this review, we summarize recent studies using digital technology to manage symptoms and support clinical care for this patient population and discuss new opportunities to advance digital psychiatry research and practice in LMICs.