Digital Data in Mental Health Therapy

The Use of Patient Electronic Communication in Psychiatric Evaluation and Treatment

The Use of Patient Electronic Communication in Psychiatric Evaluation and Treatment intends to better understand how digital data, social media, and electronic communication can be used in mental health therapy.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Between 18-65 years of age
2. Primarily English speaking (for language analysis)
3. Willing to share at least one digital data source this includes Facebook, Google searches, YouTube searches, or screen time by downloading a free application (app) on their smartphone.
4. Regular activity viewing and posting on social media sites, defined as once a month posting
5. Has a mental or behavioral health provider and/or has a provider from the Philadelphia Society of Clinical Psychologists and currently enrolled in mental or behavioral therapy
6. Attends therapy at least once a month and intends to remain in therapy for the next three months
7. Willing to share dashboard with their behavioral health provider
8. Able to provide informed consent
9. Owns a smartphone
10. If the patient downloads an app, they are willing to download and keep an app on their phone for 3 months

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Under 18 years of age
2. Non-English speaker
3. Patient is in severe distress, e.g. respiratory, physical, or emotional distress
4. Patient is intoxicated, unconscious, or unable to appropriately respond to questions
5. Not currently enrolled in mental therapy
6. Not expected to remain in mental therapy for the next three months
7. Not a regular social media poster, or does not use Facebook and/or Instagram and/or not willing to share
8. Unwilling to share social media summary dashboard with behavioral health provider
9. Patient with diagnosed psychosis
10. Does not own a smartphone
11. Unwilling to download and keep an app on their phone for 3 months