Wearable technologies and psychiatry: strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats analysis

Abstract

As in every other field, technology has an impact on healthcare. As part of technological advancements, wearable technology can guide in identifying illnesses, clarifying diagnoses, and recognizing disease-related hazards early. Considering the advances in wearable technologies impact the mental health field, as they do in all other fields, it is important to assess their implications. Studies in this field and their results will be discussed, and current shortcomings and developments will be revealed. Considering disability, economic burden, and care burden, wearable technology for mental illness is also promising. Although it is generally in the pilot study phase, wearable technology will likely be encountered more frequently in the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of mental illnesses with the increase of prospective randomized controlled studies in the near future. The collection of simultaneous and objective data in patients will also benefit evidence-based mental care. Nevertheless, it is imperative to address the matter of patients' privacy and ethical concerns associated with the utilization of wearable technology, given its potential to gather extensive and prolonged data without being driven by specific hypotheses.