Prescription Digital Therapeutics: An Emerging Treatment Option for Negative Symptoms in Schizophrenia

Overview

Journal Biol Psychiatry

Publisher Elsevier

Specialty Psychiatry

Date 2024 Jul 3

PMID 38960019

Authors

Daniel Fulford

Lisa A Marsch

Abhishek Pratap

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Digital therapeutics-web-based programs, smartphone applications, and wearable devices designed to prevent, treat, or manage clinical conditions through software-driven, evidence-based intervention-can provide accessible alternatives and/or may supplement standard care for patients with serious mental illnesses, including schizophrenia. In this article, we provide a targeted summary of the rapidly growing field of digital therapeutics for schizophrenia and related serious mental illnesses. First, we define digital therapeutics. Then, we provide a brief summary of the emerging evidence of the efficacy of digital therapeutics for improving clinical outcomes, focusing on potential mechanisms of action for addressing some of the most challenging problems, including negative symptoms of psychosis. Our focus on these promising targets for digital therapeutics, including the latest in prescription models in the commercial space, highlights future directions for research and practice in this exciting field.

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