The Therapeutic Alliance in Digital Mental Health Interventions for Serious Mental Illnesses: Narrative Review
BackgroundDigital mental health interventions offer unique advantages, and research indicates that these interventions are effective for a range of mental health concerns. Although these interventions are less established for individuals with serious mental illnesses, they demonstrate significant pr...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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JMIR Publications
2020-08-01
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| Series: | JMIR Mental Health |
| Online Access: | https://mental.jmir.org/2020/8/e17204 |
| _version_ | 1818330124647399424 |
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| author | Tremain, Hailey McEnery, Carla Fletcher, Kathryn Murray, Greg |
| author_facet | Tremain, Hailey McEnery, Carla Fletcher, Kathryn Murray, Greg |
| author_sort | Tremain, Hailey |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundDigital mental health interventions offer unique advantages, and research indicates that these interventions are effective for a range of mental health concerns. Although these interventions are less established for individuals with serious mental illnesses, they demonstrate significant promise. A central consideration in traditional face-to-face therapies is the therapeutic alliance, whereas the nature of a digital therapeutic alliance and its relationship with outcomes requires further attention, particularly for individuals with serious mental illnesses.
ObjectiveThis narrative review aims to encourage further consideration and critical evaluation of the therapeutic alliance in digital mental health, specifically for individuals with serious mental illnesses.
MethodsA narrative review was conducted by combining 3 main areas of the literature: the first examining the evidence for digital mental health interventions for serious mental illnesses, the second illuminating the nature and role of the therapeutic alliance in digital interventions, and the third surrounding practical considerations to enhance a digital therapeutic alliance.
ResultsResults indicated that a therapeutic alliance can be cultivated in digital interventions for those with serious mental illnesses, but that it may have unique, yet-to-be-confirmed characteristics in digital contexts. In addition, a therapeutic alliance appears to be less directly associated with outcomes in digital interventions than with those in face-to-face therapies. One possibility is that the digital therapeutic alliance is associated with increased engagement and adherence to digital interventions, through which it appears to influence outcomes. A number of design and implementation considerations may enhance the digital therapeutic alliance, including human support and technological features.
ConclusionsMore research is required to further understand the nature and specific role of a therapeutic alliance in digital interventions for serious mental illnesses, particularly in informing their design. This review revealed several key research priorities to advance the therapeutic alliance in digital interventions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T12:58:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3161a379306e481a95ea0573f0453477 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2368-7959 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T12:58:58Z |
| publishDate | 2020-08-01 |
| publisher | JMIR Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | JMIR Mental Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-3161a379306e481a95ea0573f04534772022-12-21T23:45:04ZengJMIR PublicationsJMIR Mental Health2368-79592020-08-0178e1720410.2196/17204The Therapeutic Alliance in Digital Mental Health Interventions for Serious Mental Illnesses: Narrative ReviewTremain, HaileyMcEnery, CarlaFletcher, KathrynMurray, GregBackgroundDigital mental health interventions offer unique advantages, and research indicates that these interventions are effective for a range of mental health concerns. Although these interventions are less established for individuals with serious mental illnesses, they demonstrate significant promise. A central consideration in traditional face-to-face therapies is the therapeutic alliance, whereas the nature of a digital therapeutic alliance and its relationship with outcomes requires further attention, particularly for individuals with serious mental illnesses. ObjectiveThis narrative review aims to encourage further consideration and critical evaluation of the therapeutic alliance in digital mental health, specifically for individuals with serious mental illnesses. MethodsA narrative review was conducted by combining 3 main areas of the literature: the first examining the evidence for digital mental health interventions for serious mental illnesses, the second illuminating the nature and role of the therapeutic alliance in digital interventions, and the third surrounding practical considerations to enhance a digital therapeutic alliance. ResultsResults indicated that a therapeutic alliance can be cultivated in digital interventions for those with serious mental illnesses, but that it may have unique, yet-to-be-confirmed characteristics in digital contexts. In addition, a therapeutic alliance appears to be less directly associated with outcomes in digital interventions than with those in face-to-face therapies. One possibility is that the digital therapeutic alliance is associated with increased engagement and adherence to digital interventions, through which it appears to influence outcomes. A number of design and implementation considerations may enhance the digital therapeutic alliance, including human support and technological features. ConclusionsMore research is required to further understand the nature and specific role of a therapeutic alliance in digital interventions for serious mental illnesses, particularly in informing their design. This review revealed several key research priorities to advance the therapeutic alliance in digital interventions.https://mental.jmir.org/2020/8/e17204 |
| spellingShingle | Tremain, Hailey McEnery, Carla Fletcher, Kathryn Murray, Greg The Therapeutic Alliance in Digital Mental Health Interventions for Serious Mental Illnesses: Narrative Review JMIR Mental Health |
| title | The Therapeutic Alliance in Digital Mental Health Interventions for Serious Mental Illnesses: Narrative Review |
| title_full | The Therapeutic Alliance in Digital Mental Health Interventions for Serious Mental Illnesses: Narrative Review |
| title_fullStr | The Therapeutic Alliance in Digital Mental Health Interventions for Serious Mental Illnesses: Narrative Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Therapeutic Alliance in Digital Mental Health Interventions for Serious Mental Illnesses: Narrative Review |
| title_short | The Therapeutic Alliance in Digital Mental Health Interventions for Serious Mental Illnesses: Narrative Review |
| title_sort | therapeutic alliance in digital mental health interventions for serious mental illnesses narrative review |
| url | https://mental.jmir.org/2020/8/e17204 |
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