Workshop on Implementation Science and Digital Therapeutics for Behavioral Health

Abstract

Digital therapeutics can overcome many of the barriers to translation of evidence-based treatment for substance use, mental health, and other behavioral health conditions. Delivered via nearly ubiquitous platforms such as the web, smartphone applications, text messaging, and videoconferencing, digital therapeutics can transcend the time and geographic boundaries of traditional clinical settings so that individuals can access care when and where they need it. There is strong empirical support for digital therapeutic approaches for behavioral health, yet implementation science with regard to scaling use of digital therapeutics for behavioral health is still in its early stages. In this paper, we summarize the proceedings of a day-long workshop, “Implementation Science and Digital Therapeutics,” sponsored and hosted by the Center for Technology and Behavioral Health at Dartmouth College. The Center for Technology and Behavioral Health is an interdisciplinary P30 Center of Excellence funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, with the mission of promoting state-of-the-technology and state-of-the-science for the development, evaluation, and sustainable implementation of digital therapeutic approaches for substance use and related conditions. Workshop presentations were grounded in current models of implementation science. Directions and opportunities for collaborative implementation science research to promote broad adoption of digital therapeutics for behavioral health are offered.

Multi-stakeholder perspectives regarding preferred modalities for mental health intervention delivered in the orthopedic clinic: A qualitative analysis

“…It is encouraging that orthopedic team members reported positive perceptions regarding the feasibility and acceptability of a digital intervention because: 1) this modality can provide at-home access to mental health tools when a patient's mobility is limited due to a musculoskeletal condition, 2) there is growing evidence of effectiveness of digital mental health interventions, sometimes comparable to in-person mental health intervention (39,40), and 3) there is increasing momentum for third party payers to subsidize digital interventions. Although some clinicians voiced medicolegal concerns related to offering a digital mental health intervention, the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the national push to facilitate seamless prescription of effective digital therapeutics, and we anticipate these concerns will lessen as clarity from governing bodies is achieved (41)(42)(43)(44). As these system-level considerations are addressed, incorporating an evidence-based digital mental health intervention into orthopedic care has the potential to meaningfully contribute to the treatment plan for a substantial subset of orthopedic patients.…”

Cutting-Edge Technologies for Digital Therapeutics: A Review and Architecture Proposals for Future Directions

“…In the case of DTx, unlike conventional medical services, it is possible to empower users to participate actively in treatment programs. However, at the same time, since self-management is required, motivation must be provided for appropriate compliance [42,43]. This empowerment and motivation can be provided through sufficient interactivity of the services.…”

Toward Data-Driven Digital Therapeutics Analytics: Literature Review and Research Directions

“…Software design and development occur in short iterations, with incremental improvements. Design, development, and evaluation occur in parallel interwoven tracks, and stakeholders (e.g., patients, clinicians, and developers) are actively involved in the entire process [118], [208]. In UCASD, evaluation can occur at various stages: initial (pre)design phases (e.g., plan/target setting and implementation of behavior change techniques), iterative development of DTx software, clinical evidence evaluation (for clinical trials), and in-the-wild deployments.…”