Priority 16 from the Digital Technology for Mental Health PSP

UNCERTAINTY: How well can digital technology (without human support) replace the human aspects of therapy e.g. the therapeutic relationship that develops between two people? (JLA PSP Priority 16)
Overall ranking	16
JLA question ID	0069/16
Explanatory note	Not available for this PSP
Evidence	No systematic reviews identified
Health Research Classification System category	Mental Health

Extra information provided by this PSP
Original uncertainty examples	By focusing on digital technology for mental health problems will the critical value of relationship be lost? ~ How can we get a tailored therapeutic tool for each metal health problem without an interpersonal rapport? ~ How helpful is it to have digital technology for people with mental health problems when often people find it easier to engage by having face to face meetings and developing relationships? ~ There is a great deal of support in counselling/psychotherapy efficacy studies about the importance of the therapeutic relationship. Building an effective therapeutic alliance is something that takes place between human beings & there are many subtleties involved in this process. How can digital technology address this very human dimension of the process of therapy?
Submitted by	11 x Service User ~ 4 x Carer ~ 13 x Practitioner

Extra information provided by this PSP

Original uncertainty examples

By focusing on digital technology for mental health problems will the critical value of relationship be lost? ~ How can we get a tailored therapeutic tool for each metal health problem without an interpersonal rapport? ~ How helpful is it to have digital technology for people with mental health problems when often people find it easier to engage by having face to face meetings and developing relationships? ~ There is a great deal of support in counselling/psychotherapy efficacy studies about the importance of the therapeutic relationship. Building an effective therapeutic alliance is something that takes place between human beings & there are many subtleties involved in this process. How can digital technology address this very human dimension of the process of therapy?

Submitted by

11 x Service User ~ 4 x Carer ~ 13 x Practitioner

PSP information
PSP unique ID	0069
PSP name	Digital Technology for Mental Health
Total number of uncertainties identified by this PSP.	134 (To see a full list of all uncertainties identified, please see the detailed spreadsheet held on the JLA website)
Date of priority setting workshop	12 March 2018