What all physicians need to know about mental health apps

11/18/20 • 20 min

Quick Takes: A podcast by physicians, for physicians

Which apps should you recommend to your patients?

On this episode of Quick Takes Dr. Gratzer sits down with returning guest and digital psychiatry expert, Dr. John Torous of Harvard University.

They discuss the use of mobile apps to aid in diagnosis and treatment as well as issues around digital privacy, the potential of chatbots, and how AI may change the field. But at the heart of this episode, they try to determine just what makes a good app. What do physicians need to know before using an app in their clinical work?

During Drs. Gratzer and Torous’ conversation we learn more about:

what makes a good app and how mobile apps can be integrated into mental health treatment
how apps may pose a risk to data privacy and security
the potential of chatbots and AI
and the challenges of sustaining patient engagement with apps.

To hear more of what Dr. Torous has to say on the topic of digital mental health, listen to Quick Takes episode 3 What all physicians need to know about digital psychiatry.

THANKS FOR LISTENING!

Quick Takes is a production of the Center for Addiction and Mental Health. You can find links to the relevant content mentioned in the show and accessible transcripts of all the episodes we produce online at CAMH.ca.

Follow CAMH Education on X (formerly known as Twitter) @camhEdu

Follow and subscribe to Reading of the Week where, every week, Dr. David Gratzer reviews research papers from the world of psychiatry.

Which apps should you recommend to your patients?

On this episode of Quick Takes Dr. Gratzer sits down with returning guest and digital psychiatry expert, Dr. John Torous of Harvard University.

During Drs. Gratzer and Torous’ conversation we learn more about:

what makes a good app and how mobile apps can be integrated into mental health treatment
how apps may pose a risk to data privacy and security
the potential of chatbots and AI
and the challenges of sustaining patient engagement with apps.

To hear more of what Dr. Torous has to say on the topic of digital mental health, listen to Quick Takes episode 3 What all physicians need to know about digital psychiatry.

THANKS FOR LISTENING!

Follow CAMH Education on X (formerly known as Twitter) @camhEdu

Follow and subscribe to Reading of the Week where, every week, Dr. David Gratzer reviews research papers from the world of psychiatry.

Previous Episode

What all physicians need to know about suicide prevention

“If you have a room of one hundred people, one hundred people in that room have been affected by suicide.”

So notes Dr. Juveria Zaheer, CAMH psychiatrist and clinician scientist with the Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, and Dr. David Gratzer’s guest on this episode of Quick Takes.

In this 10th episode of Quick Takes, Dr. Gratzer and Dr. Zaheer discuss the weighty topic of suicide. Often a difficult topic for health care providers to deal with, they keep it accessible by focusing on practical issues such as how to approach risk assessment and dealing with a suicidal patient..

What you will learn:

there’s a complicated relationship between COVID-19 and suicide
what Dr. Zaheer’s research on suicide has uncovered
what some of the warning signs for suicide are
ways to co-create a safety plan with your patient.

The podcast ends with an important reminder that the more we talk about suicide, the more we can all help prevent it.

THANKS FOR LISTENING!

Follow CAMH Education on X (formerly known as Twitter) @camhEdu

Follow and subscribe to Reading of the Week where, every week, Dr. David Gratzer reviews research papers from the world of psychiatry.

Next Episode

What all physicians need to know about race and racism in mental health care

“Racism exists and it exists in the lives of our patients.” – Dr. Amy Gajaria

In episode 12 of Quick Takes Dr. Gratzer hosts Drs. Amy Gajaria and Saadia Sediqzadah in a compelling conversation on the importance of addressing race and racism in mental health care.

In this, our longest episode of Quick Takes to date (30 minutes), the conversation covers some necessary, some easy, and some possibly difficult things clinicians should consider as they factor race into patient care.

Understand that race is important to your patients, make it important to you as well.
Recognize that there is a need to formalize diversity in mentorship and in leadership.
Learn from our history to understand the hesitancy that black, indigenous and other people of colour have towards the medical system.
Practice talking about race outside the clinical setting but don’t judge yourself – you won’t be perfect.

THANKS FOR LISTENING!

Follow CAMH Education on X (formerly known as Twitter) @camhEdu

Follow and subscribe to Reading of the Week where, every week, Dr. David Gratzer reviews research papers from the world of psychiatry.