Using Wearable Devices as Therapy Tools

The Monitor in Psychology (September 2021) describes work by Benjamin W. Nelson PhD that examines how such devices as Fitbits and Apple watches can be used to assist in diagnosis and treatment. The devices provide data on such physiological variables as step count, sleep duration, and other measures. Nelson’s goal is to secure consent to gather the data from devices to compare with reports of anxiety and depression.

One of the possible benefits is to “partially supplant the 15 minutes of homework reviews and recalling of the past week at the start of the session, by objectively showing how a person actually did over the week, thus freeing up valuable therapy time. Eventually, such data could also be used to determine when a client might be in serious trouble.”

Although the wearable devices are imperfect, they offer helpful information especially as therapists recommend physical exercise as an important tool. For example, the same issue of the Monitor reports that physical activity relates to better emotional self-regulation, which relates, in turn to academic achievement. In eleven-year-olds, physical activity related to greater behavioral self-regulation and academic achievement. A more recent study reported in the Washington Post (January 18, 2022) addresses relationships between teen sleep and both happiness and well-being, with low sleep amounts related to moodiness, feelings of worthlessness, anxiety, and depression. They go on to argue that effective sleep buffers teens and enhances coping skills. Once again, these findings highlight the importance of collecting extensive data and utilizing technology when possible.

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