Potential Applications of Digital Technology in Assessment, Treatment, and Self-help for Hallucinations

Neil Thomas; Josef J Bless; Ben Alderson-Day; Imogen H Bell; Matteo Cella; Tom Craig; Philippe Delespaul; Kenneth Hugdahl; Julien Laloyaux; Frank Larøi; Tania M Lincoln; Björn Schlier; Prabitha Urwyler; David van den Berg; Renaud Jardri

doi:10.1093/schbul/sby103

Potential Applications of Digital Technology in Assessment, Treatment, and Self-help for Hallucinations

Schizophr Bull. 2019 Feb 1;45(45 Suppl 1):S32-S42. doi: 10.1093/schbul/sby103.

Authors

Neil Thomas^{1

2}, Josef J Bless^{3

4}, Ben Alderson-Day⁵, Imogen H Bell^{1

2}, Matteo Cella^{6

7}, Tom Craig⁸, Philippe Delespaul^{9

10}, Kenneth Hugdahl^{3

4

11}, Julien Laloyaux^{3

4

12}, Frank Larøi^{3

4

12}, Tania M Lincoln¹³, Björn Schlier¹³, Prabitha Urwyler^{14

15}, David van den Berg¹⁶, Renaud Jardri^{17

18}

Affiliations

¹ Centre for Mental Health, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia.
² Voices Clinic, Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, Alfred Hospital and Monash University Central Clinical School, Melbourne, Australia.
³ Department of Biological and Medical Psychology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
⁴ NORMENT-Norwegian Center of Excellence for Mental Disorders Research, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
⁵ Department of Psychology, Durham University, Durham, UK.
⁶ Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
⁷ Psychosis Early Intervention, South London and Maudsley NHS Trust, London, UK.
⁸ Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
⁹ Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neurosciences, University of Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
¹⁰ Mondriaan Mental Health Trust, Heerlen, The Netherlands.
¹¹ Division of Psychiatry, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
¹² Psychology and Neuroscience of Cognition Research Unit, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.
¹³ Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Institute of Psychology, Universität Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.
¹⁴ Gerontechnology and Rehabilitation Group, ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
¹⁵ Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, UK.
¹⁶ Research and Innovation, Parnassia Psychiatric Institute, The Hague, The Netherlands.
¹⁷ PsyCHIC Team, SCALab CNRS UMR-9193, Lille University, Lille, France.
¹⁸ CURE Platform, CHU Lille, Fontan Hospital, Lille, France.

Abstract

The field of digital mental health is rapidly expanding with digital tools being used in assessment, intervention, and supporting self-help. The application of digital mental health to hallucinations is, however, at a very early stage. This report from a working group of the International Consortium on Hallucinations Research considers particular synergies between the phenomenon of hallucinations and digital tools that are being developed. Highlighted uses include monitoring and managing intermittently occurring hallucinations in daily life; therapeutic applications of audio and video media including virtual and augmented reality; targeting verbal aspects of hallucinations; and using avatars to represent hallucinatory voices. Although there is a well-established Internet-based peer support network, digital resources for hallucinations have yet to be implemented in routine practice. Implementation may benefit from identifying how to market resources to the broad range of populations who experience hallucinations and identifying sustainable funding models. It is envisaged that digital tools will contribute to improved self-management and service provision for people experiencing hallucinations.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Auditory Perception / physiology*
Biomedical Technology / methods*
Hallucinations / diagnosis*
Hallucinations / therapy*
Humans
Internet*
Self-Help Groups*
Telemedicine / methods*
Virtual Reality*

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding