Indian Journal of Private Psychiatry

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VOLUME 18 , ISSUE 1 ( January-June, 2024 ) > List of Articles

EDITORIAL

Mobile Apps in Psychiatry

Prosenjit Ghosh

Keywords : Internet, Mobile app, Schizophrenia, Stigma, Technology

Citation Information : Ghosh P. Mobile Apps in Psychiatry. Ind J Priv Psychiatry 2024; 18 (1):1-3.

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10067-0170

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Published Online: 03-01-2024

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2024; The Author(s).


Abstract

Technological advancement in the last 20 years has swept over psychiatry as multiple mHealth apps are available 24/7 on both Android and iOS-based smartphones. India is one of the leading countries in terms of smartphone ownership. Most of the apps are available for free or with minimal monetary subscription. The mHealth provides privacy and comfort to the user thus destigmatizing mental health and promoting help-seeking behavior as a part of modern lifestyle, thus demolishing previous conservative notions about psychiatry. Hurdles in the treatment of mental illness can be easily overcome by mHealth as it has 24-hour availability and provides anonymity therefore improving compliance. It also helps in accurately recording large data. However, limitations of mHealth apps primarily include that cognitively or functionally impaired patients may show diminished capacity to use technology and limited internet availability in certain geographical areas.


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