Folks with depression who got therapy via text or voice messages fared just as well as those who got weekly video-based telemedicine sessions with a therapist, a new trial has found.

The findings “suggest that psychotherapy delivered via text messages may be a viable alternative to face-to-face or videoconferencing delivery and may allow for more immediate on-demand care,” in a time when it’s often tough for people to access mental health care, the study authors wrote.

  • @Paragone
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    34 months ago

    That means that neural-net/deep-learning therapist if done properly is a real potential.

    And that means that we may finally hae a psychological equivalent to a “cane” or “wheelchair”, soon, to help us when we’re too exhausted to help ourselves, or when we need another’s help, & there is no other, except for money which we don’t have…

    ( no, I’m not saying that any for-profit business would do it properly.

    I AM saying it’s now possible. : )

    _ /\ _

    • nickwitha_k (he/him)
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      24 months ago

      Doing it properly is the important part. Without curation, RAG, and/or very strict quality control, you’re gonna have a bad time. Like those who got a ChatGPT bot advising them how to best contribute to their eating disorders.