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Innovation in Technology-Aided Psychotherapy Through Human Factors/Ergonomics: Toward a Collaborative Approach

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Abstract

Technologies are being used increasingly to aid psychotherapy and are becoming an integral part of mental health treatment. Although prior studies compared technology-aided psychotherapy (TAP) to traditional treatments, there are insufficient studies of the impact that specific design parameters and use of the technologies may have on the client and therapist, and treatment outcomes. This requires an understanding of human–technology interaction, which is the focus of the field of Human Factors and Ergonomics (HF/E). The goal of this article is to raise awareness of the importance of the human–technology interaction in TAP, and to foster collaborations between psychotherapists and HF/E professionals. Toward these aims, this article examines the implications of findings in HF/E for the use of technologies (videoconferencing, text-based communication, and virtual environments) in psychotherapy. It is suggested that the manner in which technologies are designed and used may have important effects on the therapeutic alliance and treatment outcomes, and in some cases (side effects of virtual reality) the health and safety of the client. Future research should examine effects of specific design factors on treatment including variables such as the visibility of gestures and degree of eye contact during videoconferencing, response delays during text-messaging, and presence and adverse effects when using virtual environments. Studies that compare TAP to traditional methods should report as much detail as possible about the human–technology interaction. It is essential that psychotherapists and HF/E professionals conduct research collaboratively to develop effective and innovative technologies and, ultimately, design principles for TAP.

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Acknowledgments

Patricia R. DeLucia, Stephanie A. Harold, Yi-Yuan Tang, Department of Psychology, Texas Tech University. Patricia R. DeLucia served as president of Division 21 of the American Psychological Association in 2010–2011. This article is based on her presidential address for Division 21, presented at APA’s 119th Annual Convention on August 4, 2011, in Washington, D.C. We are grateful to Patrick Crittendon for help with the literature review and to the students and faculty in the Texas Tech University Human Factors Chat for feedback on the presentation.

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  1. Psychology Department, MS 2051, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, 79409-2051, USA

    Patricia R. DeLucia, Stephanie A. Harold & Yi-Yuan Tang

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  1. Patricia R. DeLucia
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Correspondence to Patricia R. DeLucia.

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DeLucia, P.R., Harold, S.A. & Tang, YY. Innovation in Technology-Aided Psychotherapy Through Human Factors/Ergonomics: Toward a Collaborative Approach. J Contemp Psychother 43, 253–260 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10879-013-9238-8

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