The DOI matches its Crossref record; 32 of the 32 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Realizing the Potential of Behavioral Intervention Technologies
Abstract
Behavioral intervention technologies (BITs) apply behavioral and psychological intervention strategies by using digital media to target behaviors, cognitions, and emotions in support of physical and mental health. BITs offer promising opportunities to expand psychological practice. However, to realize the potential of BITs, psychologists must understand both the possibilities and the limitations associated with using technology to advance psychology. We review examples of the most cutting-edge BITs and discuss features that differentiate BITs from traditional modes of delivery. We highlight major challenges in designing BITs, including adherence, engagement, technological and interventional obsolescence, multidisciplinary collaboration, and a reliance on psychological skeuomorphisms. Psychologists who do not understand the conceptual and applied considerations involved in creating BITs risk being left out of the development of BITs in the future. Teaming psychologists with experts in technology will help to promote novel interventions rather than using technology to disseminate existing treatments.
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“Digital behavior change interventions, such as smartphone apps, can be effective and cost-effective tools to change a range of health-related behaviors [1,2].”
From Influences on the Uptake of and Engagement With Health and Well-Being Smartphone Apps: Systematic Review (2020) · cites this paper as [2]
In the citing paper
“The notion that mental health technologies should mimic existing evidence-based treatments has become a skeuomorph, limiting our vision of what is possible by maintaining a frame based on past conceptualizations (11).”
From Three Problems With Current Digital Mental Health Research . . . and Three Things We Can Do About Them (2017) · cites this paper as [11]
In the citing paper
“Internet-based interventions have been shown to work at least as effectively as face-to-face intervention in improving mental health across a range of conditions.”
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Metadata
- Authors
- Schueller, S. M., Muñoz, R. F., & Mohr, D. C.
- Affiliations
- Northwestern University (US)
- Palo Alto University (US)
- Venue
- Current Directions in Psychological Science
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2013-12
- Volume
- 22
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 478-483
- ISSN
- 0963-7214 (ISSN-L)
- 1467-8721
- OpenAlex
- W2074111622
- Cited by
- 152
- References
- 32
- Citations by year
- 2026: 8 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 17 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 16 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 14 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 11 · 2013: 1
- FWCI
- 15.79
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Current Directions in Psychological Science (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Digital Mental Health Interventions
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Mobile Health and mHealth Applications
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Human-Computer Interaction › Innovative Human-Technology Interaction
- Keywords
- digital mental health interventions, adherence, user engagement, technological obsolescence, multidisciplinary collaboration, skeuomorphism, digital media, psychological practice
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