Background: Various types of computational technologies can be used to access, store and wirelessly share private and sensitive user-related information. The ‘big data’ provided by these technologies may enable researchers and clinicians to better identify behavioral patterns and to provide a more personalized approach to care. The information collected, however, can be misused or potentially abused, and therefore could be detrimental to the very people who provided their medical data with the hope of improving care. This article focuses on the use of emerging mobile technologies that allow the collection of data about patients experiencing schizophrenia spectrum and related disorders. Schizophrenia has been recognized by the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations for its burden on our health care system and society [1]. Our analysis provides an overview of the range of available mobile technologies for people with schizophrenia and related conditions along with the technology’s reported capabilities and limitations, and efficacy of mHealth interventions based on the data from articles. Thus, the focus of this review is first and foremost to update the scope of existing technologies as previous systematic reviews such as the ones by Alvarez-Jimenez et al. and by Firth and Torous are outdated [2, 3]. Although we also examine the ethical issues arising from the use of these technologies, for an in-depth analysis of the ethical implications of mobile Health technologies (mHealth), we refer the readers to our follow-up article. In terms of the ubiquitous availability of technology on the internet, our article summarizes significant information for mental health specialists and apprises the reader about the existence of these technologies. Objectives: In terms of the ubiquitous availability of technology on the internet, our article summarizes significant information for mental health specialists and apprises the reader about the existence of these technologies.

While the implementation of digital technology in psychiatry appears promising, there is an urgent need to address the implications of the absence of ethical design in the early development of such technologies. Some authors have noted the gap between technology development and ethical analysis and have called for an upstream examination of the ethical issues raised by digital technologies. In this paper, we address this suggestion, particularly in relation to digital healthcare technologies for patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. The introduction of digital technologies in psychiatry offers a broad spectrum of diagnostic and treatment options tailored to the health needs and goals of patients’ care. These technologies include wearable devices, smartphone applications for high-immersive virtual realities, smart homes, telepsychiatry and messaging systems for patients in rural areas. The availability of these technologies could increase access to mental health services and improve the diagnostics of mental disorders. Additional Instruction Abstract In this descriptive review, we systematize ethical concerns about digital technologies for mental health with a particular focus on individuals suffering from schizophrenia. There are many unsolved dilemmas and conflicts of interest in the implementation of these technologies, such as (1) the lack of evidence on efficacy and impact on self-perception; (2) the lack of clear standards for the safety of their daily implementation; (3) unclear roles of technology and a shift in the responsibilities of all parties; (4) no guarantee of data confidentiality; and (5) the lack of a user-centered design that meets the particular needs of patients with schizophrenia. mHealth can improve care in psychiatry and make mental healthcare services more efficient and personalized while destigmatizing mental health disorders. To ensure that these technologies will benefit people with mental health disorders, we need to heighten sensitivity to ethical issues among mental healthcare specialists, health policy makers, software developers, patients themselves and their proxies. Additionally, we need to develop frameworks for furthering sustainable development in the digital technologies industry and for the responsible usage of such technologies for patients with schizophrenia in the clinical setting. We suggest that digital technology in psychiatry, particularly for schizophrenia and other serious mental health disorders, should be integrated into treatment with professional supervision rather than as a self-treatment tool.

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This paper reports the results of a qualitative study regarding the main attitudes and concerns of Swiss psychiatrists related to the utility, usability and acceptability of EHR and how they address the pitfalls of sharing sensitive information with other parties. A total of 20 semi-structured interviews were carried out. Applied thematic analysis was used to identify themes with regard to participation. Three main themes were identified: 1) strengths of the use of EHR in the clinical context; 2) limitations of EHR; and 3) recommendations on preserving confidentiality in health records. The study shows variable practices of EHR use in psychiatric hospitals in Switzerland and a lack of standards on how to document sensitive information in EHR.

During the past decade, the use of digital technology to promote mental health has increased dramatically. Additionally, the consequences of the COVID pandemic, such as travel restrictions and the disruption of face-to-face interactions, have led to an increase in the usage of digital technologies. A wide variety of technologies have been developed, ranging from messaging chat bots to virtual reality technologies and from direct-to-consumer apps to technologies that are fully integrated into clinical care tools. Russia and Switzerland have not been blind spots on the map of such technologies. However, the use of digital technology to promote mental health has taken different paths in these two healthcare settings. The following study is based on the opinions of mental health specialists in both countries in 2019–2020 regarding the use of digital health technologies in psychiatry. We investigate the state of adoption of digital technologies in the field of mental health, the meaning of such technology and the factors that are crucial to the use of such technology in psychiatry. Our study also explores the structural and legal barriers to technology adoption in Switzerland and Russia.