# data[].attributes.body
Mental Health Problem:
Bipolar Disorder/Manic Depressive Disorder. Those suffering from bipolarity often have issue maintaining routine and rigour in their lives.

Technological solutions:
Apps like Evernote, Wunderlist, Moodlytics
A myriad of modern productivity apps enable them to benefit from tools that aid memory, such like reminder apps and planners. Several apps also  allow them to make mood charts or track their emotional downswings to better understand and predict patterns in behavior. They also enable users to track their highs and lows, sleep, medications, and other symptoms related to bipolar disorder

# data[].attributes.body
depression, anxiety and especially PTSD.

Virtual reality.

VR headsets can be used to desensitize patients suffering from PTSD by recreating their personal triggers, he

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Mental illness has historically been brushed under the carpet and treated as a taboo subject. Thankfully, times are changing. With many celebrities, and even royalty, sharing stories about their own mental health health challenges, people are becoming more open about discussing depression, anxiety and mental illness. As society is becoming more enlightened about the subject of mental illness, technology is becoming an important part of providing solutions to preserve and improve mental health.

The following highlights four technologies that are assisting in the treatment of common mental health conditions.

1. Virtual Reality

VR is a relatively new field, but progress is fast, and it is becoming increasingly clear that virtual reality technology has an important role to play in the field of mental health. VR headsets can help desensitize patients suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, by recreating their personal triggers. This helps them to develop coping techniques in the safe environment of their own home or a therapist's office. VR can also help patients suffering from depression, anxiety, and other disorders.

2. Mental Health Apps

There is an app for everything these days, from shopping lists and banking apps, to apps for productivity and weather forecasting. Mental health apps, however, have proven to be very useful. The very first apps appeared around 2009 and since then, many more have been developed.

Apps can be used anywhere, as they are tied to a mobile device rather than a desktop computer. This portability makes them incredibly useful, especially for the younger generation, who are more likely to suffer from stress and anxiety.

Mental health and wellness apps tend to focus on three key areas: mood, stress, and anxiety. Apps come and go, as you might expect, but the most popular apps include Calm, Moodnotes, Headspace, Pacifica, and Talkspace. Take a look at those websites and download the apps to your phone.

3. Help with Anxiety

The top-rated App, Calm, is free to use, although you can pay an upgrade fee if you want to take advantage of all its features. This app, which was released in 2017, helps people suffering from anxiety using guided meditation, breathing programs, and techniques to improve mindfulness. You can even listen to relaxing sounds and soothing bedtime stories if you are stressed and unable to sleep. Pacifica, another useful anxiety-focused app, is also free to use. This also teaches mindfulness meditation techniques and has mood tracking exercises.

4. Mood Apps

Moodnotes is the top-ranking mood app. If your moods are up and down and you are struggling, downloading Moodnotes could help you spot a pattern to your moods and boost self-awareness. Moodnotes has a mood journaling feature and it helps you to avoid annoying thought traps. The app, which was released in 2015, is not free, but at $3.99, it's very affordable. Daylio is another useful mood tracking app; this one is free to use.

If you are struggling with stress, don't worry, as there are plenty of apps that can help you find relief. iCBT is a top-ten rated app for stress relief. The app, which was released in 2010, costs $5.99/month to use. It uses cognitive behavioral therapy to change your distorted thought patterns. You can also use the app to log stressful events, outcomes, and thoughts, so you can spot patterns. Apps allow users to self-treat mental health disorders, but they work best when used in conjunction with professional counseling and therapy.

Graphics courtesy of YellowBrick.

Want to hear more?

Tune into episode 63 to hear from Dale Beerman as he shares the story behind the mental health app Pacifica.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Four Ways Technology is Helping Mental Health

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Mental illness has historically been brushed under the carpet and treated as a taboo subject. Thankfully, times are changing. With many celebrities, and even royalty, sharing stories about their own mental health health challenges, people are becoming more open about discussing depression, anxiety and mental illness.

# data[].attributes.body
Mental health problem: Depression
Technological solution: A google screening that lets you know if you are depressed
Explaination: Users who search for " depression " on their mobile phones are able to see if they have symptoms of depression through a confidential test. This can help individuals identify  , address  and tackle the issue early. This also allows people to maintain in their comfort zones as some are afraid to ask about the topic yet alone identify if they have it.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The constant stream of information about the novel coronavirus and COVID-19 can cause a lot of anxiety. Mental Floss created this weekly digest so you can peruse the news at your own pace-without feeling overwhelmed.
November 17, 2020

More good news on the vaccine development front: On Monday, pharmaceutical company Moderna revealed in a press release that its experimental coronavirus vaccine is 94.5 percent effective, according to early data from its Phase 3 trial. Like the one being developed by Pfizer, Moderna's vaccine uses messenger RNA to tell the body to start making a coronavirus protein, which triggers an immune response. The data have not been peer-reviewed or published yet, but Moderna plans to seek emergency use authorization from the FDA to begin inoculating high-risk people as soon as possible. Fun fact: the work is supported by the Dolly Parton COVID-19 Research Fund.

That doesn't mean the pandemic is over, though. You should still wear face coverings to keep your droplets to yourself. If you find yourself wearing them inconsistently because they fall down your nose or fog up your glasses, neurosurgeon Dr. Daniel M. Heiferman has a solution: a Band-Aid. On Twitter, he posted a selfie with a Band-Aid stuck over the top of his surgical mask, solving both annoying problems at once.

November 10, 2020

While Pfizer's news is promising, Los Angeles Times business columnist Michael Hiltzik explains why you shouldn't throw away your mask just yet.

As coronavirus cases continue to spike across the U.S., people are facing the prospect of extended time at home-or even another series of lockdowns. And, apparently, a lot of them buying puzzles. NPR reports a worldwide run on anxiety-soothing puzzles, leaving many companies with mountains of back orders. "There's not a factory on the planet that is not months behind on production," Puzzle Warehouse co-owner Brian Way said. Here are a few more options for whiling away the hours.

November 3, 2020

It's Election Day! And the CDC has good news for voters who have recently tested positive for the coronavirus: You can still vote in person, even if you're in isolation. This seemingly counterintuitive advice was published on the agency's website Sunday. People who have been exposed to a person with the coronavirus, or who have tested positive for it, can still show up to polling places as long as they wear masks, stay 6 feet away from other people, and wash their hands before and after voting, The Washington Post reports.

Citizens are heading to the polls amid the worst outbreak of coronavirus cases thus far. NPR has an at-a-glance rundown of where cases are spiking fastest. The acceleration of infections has led national treasure Dr. Anthony Fauci to suggest we may not be back to pre-pandemic normality until 2022, according to CNN. If an effective vaccine is approved in the next several months, it could take six to eight months for a significant number of Americans to be vaccinated, Fauci said.

October 27, 2020

Last week, the CDC updated its definition of "close contact" when it comes to coronavirus contact tracing. Now, anyone who spent a total of 15 minutes within 6 feet of an infected person in a 24-hour period is considered a close contact. Previously, anyone who spent 15 consecutive minutes within 6 feet of a person who tests positive would be a close contact. The updated guidelines will most likely have an impact in places where people spend longer stretches of time indoors, such as schools, stores, restaurants, and offices.

A recent study found that over-the-counter mouthwash can "inactivate" a type of human coronavirus that causes colds-and set off an online debate about its ability to kill SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Katherine J. Wu at The New York Times debunks the idea that mouthwash could prevent COVID-19 with the facts.

Small businesses continue to feel the economic impact of the pandemic. But when New York City's beloved Strand bookstore asked customers to help it survive the financial crisis, readers placed so many online orders that its website crashed.

After months cooped up at home, perhaps you're ready for a working vacation. The Washington Post looks at eight countries that currently allow American travelers to visit for remote working. Most of the countries are in the Caribbean region, but digital nomads could also check out Estonia or Georgia for a change of scenery.

October 20, 2020

The British government is about to start the world's first coronavirus vaccine human challenge trials-a type of clinical trial in which participants are purposely exposed to the virus in a controlled setting. This method differs from a usual Phase 3 trial in that all participants receive one of several vaccines, and none receives a placebo as part of a control group. According to The New York Times, "In the first stage of the study, scientists will try to determine the smallest doses of the virus required to infect people. The scientists will test gradually increasing doses of virus on up to 90 healthy volunteers from 18 to 30 years old until they reach a level that reliably infects them. Once they have decided on a dose-potentially by late spring, the government said-researchers will begin to compare a set of coronavirus vaccine candidates by immunizing people and then deliberately infecting them." Human challenge trials save time over the usual Phase 3 method, but some bioethicists argue that it's not ethical to expose people to incurable illnesses.

Certain uninformed politicians have claimed that coronavirus deaths are vastly overcounted, and that they actually total far less than the current number in the U.S. (which is 221,000 as of today). An analysis in Scientific American debunks the coronavirus death overcount myth and explains how deaths are recorded and factored into the total. The final result is a number that places the coronavirus as the third leading cause of death in the U.S., behind only heart disease and cancer.

October 13, 2020

Johnson & Johnson put a temporary "pause" on its coronavirus vaccine trial after one of thousands of participants reported an unexplained illness, STAT reveals. The company didn't offer any details about the nature of the illness. Adverse events are a normal part of human clinical trials, STAT notes, and it is not known whether the patient received a dose of the experimental vaccine or the placebo.

The Lancet Infectious Diseases reported the first case of coronavirus reinfection in the U.S. A 25-year-old Nevada man tested positive for the coronavirus in April and recovered. He tested negative at two consecutive points in time after his recovery. But about two months later, he again tested positive, and genetic analyses showed that the SARS-CoV-2 strains for the two infections were different. The journal said the man's second bout was worse than the first, requiring supplemental oxygen and hospitalization.

Let's end on a high note, shall we? The Washington Post tells the story of Jesse Katayama, a Japanese boxing trainer whose life goal was to visit Machu Picchu in Peru. But he arrived in the South American country just as the government closed the site due to the pandemic. Instead of flying back to Japan, he waited, renting a room and teaching local kids boxing to pass the time. The locals implored the government to reopen Machu Picchu for Katayama-and only for Katayama-so he could visit before returning to Japan. This week, he got his wish.

September 29, 2020

A new study in the Proceedings of the National Academies of Science found that simply speaking can release "vortical puffs" of air capable of shooting droplets up to 3 feet per puff. The paper suggested that certain sounds, such as the "p" in "puff," spoken in a 30-second stream of speech, could carry respiratory droplets 6 feet from speaker's mouth. The findings point to the importance of wearing masks to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

What does "clean" really mean these days? We've seen businesses, restaurants, and airlines wiping down surfaces to disinfect high-traffic areas (efforts which some have called comforting but not really worth it). Public health campaigns have implored people to wash their hands (and that really does help slow the spread of germs). NPR spoke with James Hamblin, author of Clean: The New Science of Skin, about what it means to be hygienic now.

About 9 percent of Americans have antibodies against the coronavirus in their blood, according to a new paper in The Lancet. Researchers sampled blood from more than 28,000 patients at 1300 dialysis centers across the U.S. Seroprevalence for the antibodies was highest in the Northeast, where the majority of coronavirus cases emerged early in the pandemic, and higher among Black and Hispanic patients, who are at greater risk of infection than whites.

September 22, 2020

Once an impeccable source for evidence-based health information, the CDC is now facing criticism over two incidents involving its guidance for containing the coronavirus. The New York Times reported that information calling aerosols the primary mode of transmission (which most public health officials believe is true) was posted to the website, then removed without an official explanation. The key updates: The CDC said that the coronavirus may be able to spread in the air farther than six feet from an infected person and that proper indoor ventilation is essential to eliminate airborne particles. The mystery echoes the previous week's scandal in which political appointees bypassed CDC officials in issuing new coronavirus testing guidelines and meddled in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, the agency's public health bulletin. Confused? Wear a mask, avoid people, and hope for the best.

With many of their travel plans still stalled, tourists are snapping up tickets for "flights to nowhere," The Washington Post says. Some major airlines are offering trips that depart and arrive at the same airport, just to give folks the opportunity to squish into a seat, gaze out the window, and enjoy a Bloody Mary. Australian airline Qantas told Reuters that its seven-hour flight from and to Sydney flies over the Great Barrier Reef and Uluru with no layovers. "It's probably the fastest selling flight in Qantas history," a spokesperson said.

September 15, 2020

Young children are spreading the new coronavirus to adults. In a new Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, the CDC says that 12 children under the age of 10 at two Utah day care facilities acquired COVID-19 and transmitted the virus to at least 12 people who were not associated with the day care. Some of the children were asymptomatic. The agency said that "testing of contacts of laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases in child care settings, including children who might not have symptoms, could improve control of transmission from child care attendees to family members."

Two Ph.D. candidates in Poland put together an online calculator to determine how many lives you could save by wearing a face mask, Popular Mechanics reports. In an effort to combat misinformation about mask efficacy, Joanna Michałowska and Dominik Czernia designed the free tool to consider your hypothetical mask material as well as the number of people around you who are wearing masks correctly. Try it out here.

Speaking of dining out, a lot of us have been ordering takeout instead of going to our favorite restaurants. Have you ever wondered about all the extra trash generated by our national takeout trend? The Washington Post food critic Tom Sietsema did, and gathered all the containers, lids, and utensils-down to the tiny condiment cups-from three weeks' worth of his carry-out meals. Though the mountain of disposables was alarming, he discovered that restaurants are beginning to find ways of reducing takeout's environmental impact.

Finally, we know wearing masks to prevent the spread of the coronavirus is annoying. But please, don't use live reptiles as face coverings when you ride the bus, like one bloke did in Manchester, England.

September 8, 2020

With the number of deaths from COVID-19 nearing 190,000 in the U.S. alone, some have remarked on the surprising absence of public memorials and collective mourning. But at least one project is addressing the need for remembrance. In Uruguay, the architecture firm Gómez Platero recently unveiled its design for the world's first large-scale memorial to pandemic victims and survivors. Looking a little like a flying saucer touching down on Earth, the structure is meant to remind people that "human beings are subordinate to nature, and not the other way around," the architects said in a statement reported by Arch Daily.

Oh deer: scientists have discovered that the deer mouse, an abundant North American rodent, can catch and spread the coronavirus (at least in a lab setting). Pre-peer-reviewed research demonstrated that one group of mice contracted the virus after being exposed and then passed it on to a second group. Whether deer mice will end up being a major vector for coronavirus-as they are for hantavirus-or whether they can spread it to humans remains to be seen. In semi-related news, the virus has also been documented in minks, but there's no evidence to suggest minks can pass the virus to humans (it's more likely the animals at an affected farm contracted it from humans).

Last week we mentioned a superspreader event in rural Maine. Now, NPR reports that yet another mass gathering-the annual motorcycle rally in Sturgis, South Dakota-is the source of outbreaks in at least 12 states. A team of German economists analyzed anonymous cellphone "pings" from rallygoers along with public health data during and after the 10-day event. They estimate more than 266,000 cases, or 19 percent of the 1.4 million new cases in the U.S. between August 2 and September 2, may be linked to the rally [ PDF].

September 1, 2020

With the coronavirus pandemic in the U.S. entering its seventh month, The Atlantic's Amanda Mull reveals why she seems to have become markedly clumsier since the crisis began. She looks at how stress and anxiety make us drop things, bump into stuff, and trip over ourselves, and finds that the decreased spatial awareness-not impaired motor skills-that accompanies stress is making us more cloddish.

You know what's also pretty stressful? Trying to survive a hurricane, derecho, or wildfire during a pandemic. But that's exactly what residents in Louisiana, Iowa, and California are faced with right now. WABC offers tips for preparing to evacuate and hunker down at a shelter during a natural disaster: For example, along with the usual emergency supplies in your go-bag, you'll need hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, and face masks. Here's more about what to expect according to the Red Cross.

A recent wedding in rural Maine has become the latest superspreader event, The Washington Post reports. The event in early August, held in a lakeside cabin in Millinocket, featured about 65 guests and few masks, and has resulted in 87 cases of COVID-19. The wedding echoes another superspreader event early in the pandemic, a biotech conference held in Boston in February. According to WBUR, a new genetic analysis revealed that infections from that conference spread far and wide, eventually accounting for 40 percent of all coronavirus cases in the Boston area as of July 1.

Finally, last week we mentioned the first known case of coronavirus reinfection. Now, STAT looks at what immunologists say it means for understanding post-infection immunity.

August 25, 2020

A team of researchers in the Netherlands has found antibodies in the breast milk of women who recovered from COVID-19. But they didn't stop there. In a press release, chemist Albert Heck said that the next step to discovering whether such antibodies might prevent infection in others is to freeze breast milk into ice cubes. By licking the cubes, test subjects will theoretically place the antibodies in prolonged contact with their mouth and nasal passages, the area where infection is thought to occur.

A coronavirus outbreak occurred at the world's largest nudist resort last week. About 100 people have tested positive at Cap d'Agde on France's Mediterranean coast, a locale The Guardian calls "hugely popular among naturists" and where vacationers can eat, shop, and sunbathe in the village sans vêtements. Ironically, masks are required.

Speaking of masks, there are still a lot of myths and misconceptions around wearing them to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Business Insider debunks a few here. We have more tips about choosing the right type and making them as comfortable as possible.

August 18, 2020

A new study in the journal Nature Communications finds that influenza viruses can be spread by microscopic dust particles -raising questions about the ability of coronaviruses to do the same. In an experiment using guinea pigs, researchers from the University of California, Davis and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai painted live flu virus on the animals' fur and then let them run around their cages. Particle counters revealed that the virus became airborne and was able to infect other guinea pigs. The results show that the viruses could be transmitted by particles other than respiratory droplets. Of course, more research into this mechanism is needed to understand its implications for the novel coronavirus.

August 11, 2020

Infectious disease reporter Helen Branswell published a sobering call to action in STATNews, telling readers that the window for getting a grip on the out-of-control pandemic is closing. Branswell notes that the social adaptations that have made life somewhat more normal despite the pandemic, such as outdoor dining and trips to the park or beach, will disappear with the coming of winter. And we are not prepared-especially when we add cold and flu season to the situation. "Unless Americans use the dwindling weeks between now and the onset of 'indoor weather' to tamp down transmission in the country, this winter could be Dickensianly bleak," Branswell writes. Read more here.

On the research front, the focus has been on why some COVID-19 patients become sicker than others. But some scientists are beginning to look at the estimated 40 percent of COVID-19 patients who show no symptoms as a key to understanding how the virus operates. As Ariana Eunjung Cha writes in The Washington Post, "a segment of the world's population may have partial protection thanks to 'memory' T cells, the part of our immune system trained to recognize specific invaders. This could originate from cross protection derived from standard childhood vaccinations." Another source of protection could be previous exposure to similar coronaviruses, like the one that causes the common cold.

A recently published MIT study has quantified the misinformation about the coronavirus pandemic that is floating around the internet. Researchers found 2311 reports of misinformation (which, honestly, seems low) that fell into three primary categories: rumors; stigma, like blaming certain people for spreading the virus; and conspiracy theories. Yasmin Tayag has the story in the Medium Coronavirus Blog.

Speaking of misinformation, Russian authorities announced the approval of the world's first vaccine against the coronavirus today-before human clinical trials were completed. The rush to create a vaccine has prompted concerns among U.S. researchers that Russian institutes are cutting corners when it comes to drug safety and efficacy. Vladimir Putin said it works "effectively enough," according to The New York Times.

August 4, 2020

In last week's Coronavirus Digest, we mentioned several potential vaccines against COVID-19 that were entering human trials as part of the federal government's Operation Warp Speed. Now, MIT Technology Review has a story about a group of scientists developing DIY vaccines even faster than major pharma companies -and testing them on themselves. (Don't try this at home.)

Another one bites the dust: the parent company of the country's oldest department store, Lord & Taylor, has filed for bankruptcy. It joins a growing list of other iconic brands like Brooks Brothers, J.C. Penney, and Neiman Marcus that have filed for Chapter 11 following pandemic-related losses.

Speaking of masks, demand for masks with clear panels is increasing. For the more than 10,000 people in the U.S. who are hearing-impaired or deaf, opaque cloth masks create a barrier to communication-and the same goes for children or the elderly, NPR reports. Clear-panel masks allow people to see a speaker's facial expressions or read their lips, making it easier to communicate while preventing the spread of the virus.

July 28, 2020

Meanwhile, Pfizer and BioNTech SE announced that the U.S. will buy 100 million doses of their potential vaccine for about $2 billion. It's set to enter a Phase 2b/3 trial to test safety and efficacy soon, and may be available by the end of the year if it's shown to be effective and gets approved by the FDA.

Until we have a vaccine to keep us safe from the coronavirus, we have Swedish knights. A group of medieval reenactors from Torneamentum, a knights' association, will enforce social distancing among tourists on the Swedish island of Gotland. "For us knights, it is a matter of course to stand up when duty calls, and we really look forward against taking on the task," said Lennart Borg, one of the knights.

July 21, 2020

Dr. Anthony Fauci, a noted Washington Nationals superfan, has shown his love for the D.C. baseball team by wearing face masks emblazoned with the Nats logo to his hearings on Capitol Hill. Now, the infectious disease specialist will throw out the first pitch at the Nats' home opener against the New York Yankees on Thursday night. While no fans will be there to cheer him on, the team's official statement says it all: "Dr. Fauci has been a true champion for our country during the COVID-19 pandemic and throughout his distinguished career, so it is only fitting that we honor him as we kick off the 2020 season and defend our World Series Championship title." We know Dr. Fauci was a high school basketball star, but how's his throwing arm?

July 14, 2020

Governor Gavin Newsom ordered all 58 of California's counties to close indoor bars and restaurants to curb the spread of the coronavirus, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. In the most populous counties, gyms, salons, barbershops, malls, houses of worship, and offices are also being told to close. The number of COVID-19 cases in California has risen since Memorial Day and the state has averaged 8000 new cases per day over the last week. Florida and Texas, where the number of new cases is skyrocketing, are finally considering reinstating lockdown measures as well.

Finally, forgoing vacations hasn't been easy during the pandemic, but the books on the Washington Post's list of travel-disaster narratives will go a long way towards curbing your enthusiasm for adventure. We highly recommend The Worst Journey in the World, one of the included books, for its unparalleled descriptions of self-induced misery.

July 10, 2020

About those aerosols ... the World Health Organization updated its guidance on Thursday in response to an open letter from 239 researchers, announcing that coronavirus can be spread via very tiny, airborne droplets. The WHO maintains that the primary mode of transmission is through larger respiratory droplets, which can be partially corralled by face coverings. NPR has more on the report.

One of the biggest questions about the coronavirus is what its long-term effects will be in people who have recovered from COVID-19. A small study from University College London researchers, published in the journal Brain and reported by Reuters, adds to the growing body of evidence that COVID-19 can cause "temporary brain dysfunction, strokes, nerve damage, or other serious brain effects." The New York Times recently reported on COVID-19 patients experiencing terrifying hallucinations and delirium while in the ICU.

On that note, some radio stations are trying to cheer up listeners by playing Christmas music in July -as if the concept of time in 2020 couldn't get any weirder.

July 7, 2020

A team of researchers in Germany has found that we inherited genes associated with higher susceptibility to COVID-19 from Neanderthals. Modern humans and Neanderthals interbred at least 60,000 years ago, and today, Neanderthal genes make up about 2 percent of European and Asian people's DNA. Precisely why this segment of genetic material seem to increase the risk of severe coronavirus-related illness is still a mystery.

More than 200 scientists signed a letter to the World Health Organization presenting evidence that the coronavirus virus can be transmitted by tiny airborne droplets. The WHO has maintained that large respiratory droplets are the main mode of transmission, but the signatories argue that the aerosols can not only carry the virus but linger in the air, especially indoors. The New York Times has the bad news.

One crucial ingredient in a potential coronavirus vaccine comes from an unlikely source: horseshoe crabs. The ancient marine invertebrate's copper-rich blood is the only natural source of limulus amebocyte lysate, a substance that can indicate if vaccines, drugs, or other sterile medical materials are contaminated with a dangerous bacterial toxin. National Geographic looks into what the current pandemic means for the species.

July 3, 2020

Testing is one of the most important tools public health officials have to beat back the pandemic. NPR looks into how much testing is needed to get a handle on the record outbreaks in numerous U.S. states and finds efforts are falling alarmingly short. At the same time, the supply chain for testing is already struggling to fill orders, which may reduce the number of tests that are available and extend the wait time between having the test and receiving results. The Atlantic has more.

Spanish newspaper El Pa í s breaks down three cases studies analyzing superspreader events. In each case, a single person with the coronavirus infected multiple people in an enclosed environment. Researchers who compiled the data pointed to prolonged exposure to infected persons as the main driver of contagion, along with recirculated air from air conditioning systems.

With many traditional movie theaters closed, drive-ins are making a comeback across the country. Walmart announced that it's turning 160 of its Supercenter parking lots into pop-up drive-ins this summer, the Verge reports. From August to October, audience members can remain in their cars while enjoying a series of films chosen by Tribeca Enterprises, the group behind the Tribeca Film Festival. Here are some traditional drive-ins to check out too.

Finally, it's almost the Fourth of July. Backyard cookouts and fireworks will feel a lot different this year (if the celebrations are happening at all). The New York Times has a few suggestions for spending the July 4th holiday in a masked and socially-distanced manner, while the Red Cross offers reminders about more typical safety concerns, such as don't barbecue inside and don't swim in beach areas without lifeguards.

June 30, 2020

The CDC updated its list of conditions that may increase your risk for severe COVID-19 if you become infected with the coronavirus. Previously identified comorbidities included cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. Now, the list of illnesses with the potential to intensify COVID-19 symptoms include those three, plus chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), any immunosuppressing condition, sickle cell disease, and a history of organ transplants. The agency announced the updates last Thursday, June 25.

Remdesivir is the only antiviral drug that has been shown to reduce COVID-19 patients' time in the hospital, and now its manufacturer, Gilead, has set a price on it. STAT reports that the company will charge the U.S. government $390 per vial of remdesivir, totaling $2340 for a six-vial, five-day course of treatment. Private insurers will be charged $520 per vial, or $3120 for a five-day course. A recent study showed the drug may shorten the average time of some patients' hospital stays by four days. In contrast, four days in a U.S. hospital costs about $12,000, according to The New York Times.

With coronavirus cases reaching unprecedented daily highs in several states, The Atlantic explains why it's happening with charts that show the awful toll. In an interview with CNN and reported by Politico, Dr. Anthony Fauci scolded Americans who have abandoned mask-wearing and social distancing, saying "it's a recipe for disaster." And NBC has a refresher on the proper way to wear a mask for actually protecting others from your droplets-and it's not the reverse Batman.

Finally, United Airlines, Spirit Airlines, and American Airlines announced they will start booking all seats on their planes July 1 and do away with any attempt at social distancing (which, let's face it, isn't easy when seats are less than 17 inches wide). The carriers had been keeping the middle seats empty to space passengers out as much as possible. American is allowing passengers to rebook without a fee if their flight is too full for comfort, but they will need to pay the difference in fare, and other restrictions apply. Here are some hacks for carefully planning your next trip.

June 26, 2020

A Washington Post-Ipsos survey has found that 31 percent of Black Americans know someone who has died of the coronavirus, compared to 17 percent of Hispanic Americans and 9 percent of white Americans. Epidemiologists attribute the disparity to socioeconomic inequality: "This pandemic has really unearthed-shone a real bright light on-the ways these disparities should not be accepted and are not tolerable," Joseph Betancourt, vice president and chief equity and inclusion officer at Massachusetts General Hospital, told the Post.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of New York City's first Pride march, but many Pride festivities around the world have been canceled because the pandemic. Much of the LGBTQ community will be celebrating indoors this year, so kick back with these essential LGBTQ movies available to stream now.

June 23, 2020

The U.S. now accounts for 20 percent of new coronavirus infections worldwide, The New York Times reports. New infections in states that reopened without meeting benchmarks for containing the pandemic are continuing to climb. One infectious disease specialist told The Times that the spread is "like a forest fire." See the data here.

On the other hand, states that imposed strict lockdowns and saw the number of new cases drop are beginning to reopen with mask and social distancing rules in place. New York City, once the country's COVID-19 hotspot, began phase 2 of its reopening process yesterday. Phase 2 allows city barbershops and hair salons to reopen with precautions, and many were booked solid.

The FDA issued a warning about hand sanitizers manufactured in Mexico. Some products may contain methanol, a potentially fatal substance that causes nausea, vomiting, headaches, vision problems, and nervous system damage, The Washington Post reports.

In coronavirus-adjacent news, 1993's Jurassic Park topped the boxed office last weekend, 27 years after its debut. Its resurgence is due to many studios' reluctance to release new films while most U.S. movie theaters remain closed. And another classic blockbuster is having a moment: 1975's came in second behind the dinosaur thriller. Here are some more flicks that might reach No. 1 in your living room.

June 19, 2020

Antibodies may give you some immunity against a coronavirus reinfection-but it may only last for a few months, according to The New York Times. A small study of 37 people in Nature Medicine found that those infected with coronavirus but who showed no symptoms may be only temporarily protected from reinfection, but researchers are continuing to investigate.

Across the U.S., local and state lawmakers are fighting ordinances to require residents to wear face coverings in public, and individual resistance to wearing masks has grown-all at a time when coronaviruses cases are skyrocketing in Texas, Arizona, Oklahoma, and other states. We shouldn't have to say this now, but wear a mask, for crying out loud-it could save your life and the lives of people you love.

Finally: 7-11 canceled its annual 7-11 Day, a Slurpee giveaway that celebrates the chain's birthday on July 11, due to the pandemic. If you're craving a summer treat, try some uniquely flavored ice cream instead.

June 16, 2020

While the search for COVID-19 treatments continues, the best ways to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus is still wearing masks and social distancing, according to public health officials. Many states that have begun phased reopenings, however, are seeing big spikes in the number of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. Some officials are now threatening to lock down their cities and states again if people don't follow the rules.

Tonight, the PBS series Frontline will premiere , a new documentary examining how the new coronavirus emerged and spread rapidly across the world. The filmmakers also look at the inconsistent state and federal response to the pandemic in the U.S. Check your local listings for show times.

Finally, make-your-own waffles and other self-serve treats at hotel breakfast buffets may become things of the past due to coronavirus-related health precautions, the Washington Post reports. Console yourself by reading up on the fascinating history of waffles.

June 12, 2020

Two new studies in the journal Nature estimate how lockdowns prevented millions of coronavirus infections and deaths. In one study, researchers analyzed 1717 quarantine policies in six countries-China, South Korea, Italy, Iran, France, and the U.S.-with models usually used to measure economic growth. They suggest the contagion-fighting measures prevented about 530 million infections. The second study looked at the number of COVID-19 deaths across 11 European countries and estimated an additional 3.1 million people would have died from the coronavirus if quarantine policies had not been implemented.

Meanwhile, coronavirus cases are increasing significantly in some U.S. states. The New York Times's tracker shows upticks in 14 states as a result of more widespread testing, while The Washington Post reports increases in hospitalizations since Memorial Day, when some states began to loosen stay-at-home restrictions.

All this means that face masks are here to stay. Recently, two Swiss research institutes developed a way to make surgical masks less obtrusive for all. Chemists created a transparent, biodegradable polymer for masks that allow patients to see healthcare workers' facial expressions while preventing the transfer of infectious droplets. They may be on the market for medical professionals by next year.

Finally, Google Maps has introduced an update that shows coronavirus-related restrictions on public transportation and some destinations. Perhaps most helpful is the app's ability to tell you in real time if trains or stations are too crowded to safely social-distance. Take a look here.

June 9, 2020

The World Health Organization announced that transmission of the coronavirus by asymptomatic carriers may be "very rare." Then, health journalists and scientists took to Twitter to temper expectations: it turns out that pre-symptomatic carriers, who may show symptoms at a later time, are still believed to transmit the virus in about half of COVID-19 cases. Researchers continue to investigate the size of the roles pre-symptomatic and asymptomatic people play in the pandemic. Disease ecologist A. Marm Kilpatrick, biology professor Carl T. Bergstrom, and physician Eric Topol posted Twitter threads breaking down the latest info.

Here's some good news: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said New Zealand has no known coronavirus cases, Axios reports. The country went into strict lockdown since February 28, and eventually saw 1154 cases with 22 deaths. Nearly 300,000 tests were performed, and no new cases have been reported for the past 18 days.

For many, one of the toughest parts of the pandemic has been not being able to hug loved ones who aren't members of your immediate household. The New York Times has an adorable illustrated guide for when we're able to hug friends and family again.

Finally, you've heard of maskne-the unpleasant skin reaction to the moisture and heat generated by wearing face masks all day. But you may not realize that the backs of your ears might be suffering, too. The elastic bands on some face masks can cause chafing where they loop around your ears, so here are some easy tips for soothing back-of-ear-irritation.

June 5, 2020

A study that found COVID-19 patients who took hydrochloroquine had an increased risk of death has been retracted, NPR reports. Originally published in The Lancet, the study prompted the World Heath Organization to halt its own study of the malaria drug for treating COVID-19. But researchers raised questions about the accuracy of the study's patient data, which came from a private company called Surgisphere and whose founder is listed as one of the study's authors. More from NPR here.

Speaking of studies, science journalist Carl Zimmer dives into the history of scientific journals and how new research gets published -an important primer for the current flood of breaking coronavirus news.

People in Zambia speak more than 70 languages, and most speak a Bantu dialect. But public health alerts about preventing the spread of coronavirus were delivered in English, the country's official language, causing many to miss the message. Sister Astridah Banda, a Catholic nun, had a solution: she started a radio program to broadcast health advice in multiple languages, and it became a hit. NPR's Goats and Soda has more.

Finally, summer is almost here, though that may be hard to believe. Here are a few practical tips for wearing masks-which can trap heat and sweat on your face-more comfortably in warm weather.

June 2, 2020

If you've had COVID-19 and present antibodies, does that mean you're immune from another infection? How long does immunity last? What is immunity, exactly? Katherine J. Wu, who has a Ph.D. in microbiology and immunobiology from Harvard, breaks down the complicated ways our immune system protects us from pathogens.

Finally, Dr. Anthony Fauci talks with STAT's Helen Branswell about the state of "warp speed" coronavirus vaccine research and other hot topics in a characteristically forthright interview.

May 29, 2020

Japan declared a national emergency in early April to combat the spread of coronavirus. Now, a few days before the order was set to expire, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is lifting the state of emergency in all but eight of Japan's 47 prefectures. See how public health efforts to root out "clusters" of COVID-19 contained the disease in this Science article.

Many Americans are still waiting to receive their stimulus payments from the government, and a few who have received the stimulus funds have mistaken the letters for scams or junk mail. The Washington Post describes the anonymous envelopes and debit cards linked to the "Money Network Cardholder Services of Omaha, Nebraska" arriving in mailboxes with little indication they're actually from the U.S. Treasury. The IRS has posted a FAQ with info about the stimulus payment debit cards, and if you've received one, here are some answers about activating and using it.

Businesses and offices around the world are beginning to reopen, which necessitates creative solutions for maintaining social distancing among employees and customers. The CDC has just issued guidelines for redesigning office spaces in the pandemic, some of which seem doable (such as adding clear dividers between closely-spaced desks) and some that seem well-nigh impossible (keeping people six feet apart in elevators and getting rid of communal coffee makers). And in France, a designer has come up with a similar tool for restaurant patrons: these giant Plexiglass "lampshades" that shield wearers from other people's droplets.

Finally, it's Friday, and most of us are still stuck at home. Now would be a great time to adopt the Swedish tradition of Fredagsmys, loosely translated as " Taco Friday." Swedes gather together on Friday nights to eat tacos and watch movies with their families, and really, is that so different from what we may already be doing? Here are a few recommendations for awesome heist flicks to start your own Taco Friday.

May 26, 2020

More cities and states are allowing certain business to reopen during the continuing coronavirus pandemic. The New York Times has a frequently updated, state-by-state guide to the new rules.

Just FYI, rats are becoming more aggressive in their search for food. The Washington Post reports that the urban rodents are having a hard time with bars and restaurants closed, since they're not producing the garbage and food scraps the rats would normally feast upon. In extreme cases, rats are even turning to cannibalism. Here are the CDC's new guidelines for keeping them away from your trash cans.

Speaking of nature, a new article in Scientific American looks into how the environment will record the coronavirus pandemic. In a recent example, scientists examining Alpine ice cores discovered that the amount of lead pollution in the atmosphere decreased suddenly only once in 2000 years: between 1349 and 1353, when the Black Death engulfed Europe. In the future, tree rings and ice cores might show a remarkable decrease in greenhouse gas emissions in early 2020.

May 22, 2020

In two new studies published in the journal Science, researchers at Boston's Beth Israel Deaconness Medical Center report promising results in battling the new coronavirus. For the first experiment, nine rhesus macaques were exposed to the new coronavirus and came down with COVID-19. After they recovered, researchers again exposed them to the virus, and the monkeys did not get sick-suggesting that they developed antibodies that protected them from reinfection. In the second study, researchers gave six experimental vaccines to 25 monkeys, then exposed those animals and 10 control monkeys to the virus. The vaccinated subjects showed "a substantial degree of protection," one of the researchers told Reuters. Larger studies and human subjects will be the likely next step.

"Oh sh*t," tweeted one virologist when she saw this study confirming the presence of infectious coronavirus particles in human poop. It gets worse: The study authors suggest that more research into "fecal-oral or fecal-respiratory transmission" of the coronavirus is warranted. And in a possibly related development, fatbergs may present another problem for treating coronavirus-contaminated sewage.

Memorial Day Weekend is here, though it still seems like mid-March because time and space are meaningless now. If you happen to be planning a summer road trip for 2020, follow these tips from The Washington Post, which suggest that vacations will be masked and sanitized for the foreseeable future. Here are a few more ideas.

Finally, if your summer vacation is going to be spent at home, check out these goods for a fun backyard movie night.

May 19, 2020

Remember the plight of the USS Theodore Roosevelt, the naval aircraft carrier whose captain pleaded with authorities to rescue his coronavirus-infected crew? (And then the captain was fired, and then the guy who fired him was fired, and then the captain was rehired in a different role?) It's finally leaving port and heading back out to sea.

Speaking of aircraft, are planes safer than a car for travel these days? Medium talks to experts and finds that it really comes down to how tightly the vehicle is packed with non-related people.

And now that airlines and many other entities are requiring people to wear masks in public, you'll need these tips for properly laundering your fabric face coverings.

May 15, 2020

A French dairy trade group is urging cheese lovers in France to fromagissons-basically, "let us act for cheese!"-to help farmers during the coronavirus pandemic. Citizens can do their part by scarfing down cheese from the regions of Saint-Nectaire, Reblochon, Cantal, and Camembert that would otherwise go to waste. BRB, moving to France ...

Quarantine fatigue is sweeping the nation. Inverse talks to three experts about what this special type of fatigue looks like and offers some options for getting through it.

It's like Sami knew today was special. She wouldn't stop kissing her mom this morning ❤️ pic.twitter.com/DTr9IsYzf5

- Newhouse Wildlife Rescue (@NewhouseRescue) May 10, 2020

May 12, 2020

If you live in New York, Maryland, or another state that has required people to wear face coverings in public, perhaps you've noticed the extreme variety in mask styles-from surgical masks to bandanas to homemade masks to hazmat respirators. NBC has some tips for choosing and buying a face mask, but the main thing to remember is that they won't keep you completely safe from the new coronavirus. You still have wash your hands and practice social distancing if you need to leave home.

Last week, houseplant boutique The Sill teamed up with Frontline Strong Relief and the orchid brand Just Add Ice to donate 10,000 orchids to healthcare workers in New York City's Mount Sinai Hospital Network. Noting the mood-boosting power of plants, The Sill founder and CEO Eliza Blank said the gift is their way of thanking the city's essential workers as well as celebrating Mother's Day in the midst of a global crisis.

Certain segments of the internet have been swooning over Dr. Anthony Fauci's no-nonsense handling of the coronavirus crisis, but a steamy 1991 romance novel called Happy Endings was there first. Famed D.C. hostess and author Sally Quinn based her handsome NIH scientist who has an affair with the widowed first lady on Fauci, just as Fauci was at the NIH developing treatments for AIDS. Washingtonian has the details.

Finally, as if it didn't already feel like we're living in a science fiction dystopia, check out the best sci-fi movies on Netflix right now.

May 8, 2020

The military is temporarily banning recruits who have been hospitalized with COVID-19 from joining any of the armed forces, according to a Pentagon memo reported by The New York Times. Military officials may reconsider the guidance in the future, once more facts are known about the virus's long-term effects in patients.

Let's end on a positive note, shall we? The World Naked Bike Ride will go on, despite the pandemic-at least in Portland, Oregon. While other cities have canceled the event, Portland's organizers are encouraging nude cyclists to participate on June 27 while maintaining proper social distancing.

May 5, 2020

With so many families unable to visit loved ones in hospitals and nursing homes, some folks are getting creative with their means of connection. When his mother couldn't visit her 95-year-old father in a Toronto hospital, Avi Minkowitz asked his friend to drive his cherry-picker truck to the facility. His mom got into the bucket and was hoisted up three stories so she could see her beloved dad outside his third-floor window. Read more in this heartwarming essay.

Finally, are you feeling cooped up? Commiserate with the casts of these single-location movies (like my favorite on the list, Alfred Hitchcock's Rope).

May 1, 2020

Stressed-out, home-bound parents are turning to Zoom babysitters when they need a break from working, teaching, and childcare. One sitter told The Washington Post that the most difficult part of the job was getting kids back in front of the screen when they wander off.

An NIH study of more than 1000 COVID-19 patients showed that the antiviral drug remdesivir reduced hospital stays to average of 11 days compared to 15 days for patients who received a placebo. The death rate was not reduced significantly. While the results of the study were modest, Dr. Anthony Fauci told reporters that "it is a very important proof of concept, because what it has proven is that a drug can block this virus."

Could drive-in movie theaters make a comeback? With traditional cinemas closed across the country, drive-ins offer the thrill of a summer blockbuster in the sanitized safety of your vehicle, with a dash of mid-century nostalgia thrown in. About 300 still exist, including the Family Drive-In Theatre near Winchester, Virginia, which has recently sold out its weekend shows of Sonic the Hedgehog.

Finally, if you're bored with your cereal-based isolation diet, plug in your Instant Pot and try making these nine concoctions.

April 28, 2020

The CDC added six symptoms to its list of common signs of possible COVID-19 infection. Along with fever, cough, and shortness of breath, the new list includes chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, and loss of smell or taste. NPR reports that the expanded list of symptoms might allow more people to qualify for coronavirus testing, since people generally need to show signs of infection to be tested. One scary potential symptom is not yet included: blood clots that are leading to strokes in younger, otherwise mildly symptomatic COVID-19 patients. The Washington Post has that story.

If your wedding has been scaled back or canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic-and if you really, really love Miller High Life-have we got a contest for you. The beer brand is giving away "doorstep" weddings to three couples, which include the services of an officiant and photographer and $10,000 for a sometime-in-the-future honeymoon. See the company's website for details about entering.

Finally, if you're running out of ways to entertain-I mean educate-your kids at home, try these fun and informative science experiments.

April 24, 2020

You might be wearing your mask wrong. If your mask only covers your mouth or hangs around your neck while you talk on the phone, you're not using it properly. The Huffington Post has some tips to get the most out of your cloth face covering-and also offers hints about the best fabrics for making your own. And, NPR reports on a not-yet-peer-reviewed study that suggests wearing a nylon stocking over your cloth mask keeps the mask tighter on your face and more effective at restraining your spittle.

Walmart and grocery stores are putting one-way traffic signs in their aisles to help shoppers move in a single direction throughout the stores, which is meant to encourage social distancing. At least two Mental Floss editors have recently witnessed very little adherence to the rules, though. Maybe the stores need to hire crossing guards.

A study highlighted last week in this digest found that cats were more susceptible to the virus than other mammals and birds. Now, the USDA is reporting that two pet kitties in different areas of New York State have tested positive for the coronavirus after visiting their vets with respiratory symptoms. There is still no evidence that people can contract COVID-19 from their pets. Fortunately, the two cats are expected to make a full recovery.

Finally, you may be sitting on a hoard on quarantine-related nonperishables right now, but those canned goods won't last forever. Just look at what happened to this one.

April 21, 2020

You may be feeling stir-crazy after a few weeks of home quarantine, but you have probably had it easier than six tourists in India who were found self-isolating in a cave. The visitors-from France, Turkey, Nepal, Ukraine, and the U.S.-had run out of money for their hotel rooms. Officials took them to a nearby ashram and told them to quarantine for another two weeks.

Schoolkids in Britain can take a virtual geography class with naturalist extraordinaire Sir David Attenborough. The dulcet-voiced narrator of Blue Planet II and Seven Worlds, One Planet will teach pupils about mapping, animal behavior, and oceanography on the BBC's Bitesize Daily.

Should you disinfect your deliveries? The New York Times offers useful tips on when or if to treat common surfaces, like cardboard boxes, your shoes, and your hair, with antiviral solutions. Bonus: The Times's how-to guide for washing your clothes at home.

There are many things we still don't know about the novel coronavirus, including how well it is spread by different methods. Words like airborne and aerosol get thrown around a lot, but their meanings aren't always clear. Check out this explainer on some coronavirus terminology you should know.

Finally, a Colorado indie bookstore is helping readers discover new novels and authors during lockdown. For $50, Trident Booksellers and Cafe in Boulder will deliver a mystery bag of four to six books (plus a packet of tea or coffee beans) based on the customer's preferred literary genre. Here are some more ways to help local bookstores stay afloat.

April 17, 2020

A 99-year-old World War II veteran in Britain vowed to raise money for the UK's National Health Service (NHS) by walking 100 laps around his garden. On April 16, Captain Tom Moore completed his mission and raised a whopping £13 million ($16 million) for the public health service. Moore had started out on April 8 with a goal to raise £1000-but when supporters donated £70,000 in the first 24 hours, he upped his objective to £1 million. As The Guardian reports, Moore completed the last 25 laps on live television accompanied by a guard of honor from the 1st Battalion of the Yorkshire Regiment, Moore's own regiment in the war. Now, his supporters are asking Queen Elizabeth II to give him a special commendation. And he turns 100 on April 30!

Another enterprising senior, quarantined 93-year-old Pennsylvania resident Olive Veronesi, put a plea in her window: "I need more beer!" Coors Light answered the call and promptly delivered 150 cans. "I was on my last 12 cans, I have a beer every night, you know what, beer has vitamins in it, it's good for you, as long as you don't overdo it," Veronesi told KDKA. Similarly, 82-year-old Ontarian Annette Muller implored her daughter to run to the store with a sign in her window reading "need more wine."

In more feel-good news, a Michelin-starred Copenhagen restaurant that usually features a $700 tasting menu is feeding the city's homeless population instead.

An anonymous donor bought each of the 549 households in Earlham, Iowa, $150 in gift cards to spend at local businesses-a present totaling more than $82,000. "I don't believe 'thank you' is a big enough word," Mayor Jeff Lillie told The Washington Post.

Finally, Facebook is directing users who have interacted with posts containing coronavirus misinformation to websites with facts from the World Health Organization. A Facebook official said in a blog post that 2 billion users have been directed and 350 million have clicked through to the factual sites. Here are some other companies doing their part during the crisis.

April 14, 2020

The coronavirus pandemic has hit the U.S. economy hard, but some small business owners are devising creative ways to help their staff. The owner of a Tybee Island, Georgia, bar spent three days un-stapling dollar bills-totaling more than $3000-from the walls and ceiling to give to her workers.

Speaking of workers: Some newly unemployed and furloughed folks are creating online communities to help their peers get through the labyrinth of state labor websites and unemployment benefits.

The Great Toilet Paper Shortage continues, but apparently some people are finding it at Walmart. The company's CEO, Doug McMillon, told NBC's Savannah Guthrie on April 10 that Walmart consumers bought enough toilet paper in five days to give every American a roll. (That's about 328 million rolls, or 328 billion individual squares if every roll had 1000 sheets.)

April 10, 2020

The toilet paper shortage is real-but your credit card company might be able to help you squeeze the Charmin. Finder.com reports that high-end credit cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve and the MasterCard Gold Card offer concierge services to help cardmembers make dinner reservations, travel arrangements, and other transactions. In a small experiment, three Finder.com staffers asked their card company's concierge to find the nearest store with toilet paper on the shelves. Two concierges were able to call around and unearth the white gold.

A Marine veteran didn't let the coronavirus pandemic interrupt her 104th birthday celebration, according to WMC Action News 5 in Memphis, Tennessee. Ruth Gallivan, believed to be one of the oldest female Marines, served in World War II. The veterans' organization Honor Flight surprised her by putting together a drive-by car parade and wished her many happy returns.

Finally, your pantry staples might be running a little low after a month on lockdown. If you're planning a run to the grocery store, follow these simple precautions to reduce the chance of bringing home the coronavirus along with your bread and dry beans.

April 7, 2020

A tiger at the Bronx Zoo in New York City tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus. The zoo's chief vet Paul Calle tweeted that Nadia, a 4-year-old Malayan tiger, had tests confirmed at the USDA's National Veterinary Services Laboratory after showing respiratory symptoms. Three other tigers exhibited the same symptoms, and zoo officials believe the big cats were exposed to the virus by an asymptomatic zoo employee. The Wildlife Conservation Society, which operates the Bronx Zoo, expects all the cats to fully recover. In a press release, the USDA said it's unlikely that your pet cat could transmit the virus to you, but if you feel sick, it's best to stay away from Fluffy as long as you have symptoms.

Oscar-winning actor and University of Texas at Austin professor Matthew McConaughey hosted bingo night (via Zoom) for a group of residents at The Enclave at Round Rock, a senior living community in a suburb of Austin. Along with his wife, mom, and kids, McConaughey called out the numbers while the quarantined seniors played along at home.

Should you be wearing a mask when you go outside? The answer is complicated, but New York City's mayor has begun urging residents to wear a fabric face covering to reduce the chance the virus could spread through breathing or talking. Recent research suggests presymptomatic people could transmit the coronavirus more easily through aerosols than previously thought.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
6 Ways Technology Can Help Mental Health Disorders

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The constant stream of information about the novel coronavirus and COVID-19 can cause a lot of anxiety. Mental Floss created this weekly digest so you can peruse the news at your own pace-without feeling overwhelmed.

# data[].attributes.body
Mental Problem: PTSD
Technological Solution: Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy
Explanation: an individual is immersed in a computer-generated virtual environment, either through the use of a head-mounted display device or entry into a computer-automated room where images are present all around. This environment can be programmed to help the person directly confront feared situations or locations that may not be safe to encounter in real life. These can include claustrophobia, fear of driving, acrophobia, fear of flying, arachnophobia, and social anxiety. In the US, this is specifically used for veterans with PTSD

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How virtual reality is helping heal soldiers suffering with PTSD

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
For nearly 20 years the idea of using virtual reality to treat PTSD has been gaining momentum. But new breakthroughs in the platform are making it easier and more affordable than ever for veterans to find help.

# data[].attributes.body
Mental Health Problem: Depression/Other debilitating mental health issues that prevent people from seeking face-to-face help

Technological Solution: Online counselling (E.g. betterhelp)

Explanation: The ability to communicate with the anonymity of the internet, in the comfort of their homes, may encourage some people to take the first step in speaking up about their struggles

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
BetterHelp | Professional Therapy With A Licensed Therapist

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
BetterHelp offers affordable, convenient online therapy when you need it from licensed, professional therapists. Get help, you deserve to be happy!

# data[].attributes.body
Mental Health Problem:
People refusing to seek help/not recognising what mental health problem looks like/lack of data on mental health problems
Technological Solution: Systematic data collection of human behavior online
Explanation: Data can be continuously collected on human behavior in the context of people's real lives, creating a large data set that provides signs of detoriating mental health for timely intervention, as well as the specific causes of detoriating mental health

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Scrutinizing the effects of digital technology on mental health

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Debating digital-technology use and teenage mental health.

# data[].attributes.body
Mental Health Problem: People suffering from mental health find it challenging to step into the public and openly seek help for the condition they are suffering from, due to existing societal taboo placed on mental health

Technological solution: With mobile apps and websites geared towards tackling mental health, people with poor mental health can seek help in privacy, away from the public glare and scrutiny. In effect, technology is less of the solution itself to mental health but rather, a means to a solution- a viable alternative for one to seek the antidote to the root of their mental health problem.

Explanation: Apps and Platforms such as Headspace, Daylio and Therapy Platform Singapore, provide viable and convenient means for people to seek help and gain guidelines and advice. For instance, Headspace focuses on guided meditation and aims to reduce stress and anxiety with courses on meditation, workouts and sleep.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
As we simultaneously get close to spring and enter a phase of cautious optimism about the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, some of your clients may be thinking about starting new self-care routines or tweaking old ones. Mobile health (mHealth) apps - or in this case, mental health apps - offer opportunities for patients to add something new to their treatment plans while also allowing practitioners to track their progress. Here, we review the most effective mental health apps available and how to integrate them into your clinical practice.

Where to Start? How to Choose an Effective Mental Health App for Your Client

With estimates of more than 10,000 mHealth apps available, a high turnover rate in app stores, ¹ and low barriers for developers to release apps in what the Washington Post called a "chaotic world" of mental health apps, ² patients could benefit from guidance on how to choose apps that are both evidence-based and protective of their privacy. Research suggests that self-help apps can be more beneficial when used as a part of therapy rather than as monotherapy, ³ so the aim is finding how to combine these to work together for clinicians and patients.

User Reviews: Provider Feedback Is Crucial

When looking for mHealth apps to recommend to clients, review sites such as PsyberGuide (from the nonprofit group One Mind) can be helpful. The American Psychiatric Association's App Advisor ⁴ also offers a framework that guides clinicians through the process of evaluating apps. In fact, a team of researchers recently created a database to collect reviews of apps based on those criteria. ¹ But because apps can be revised at any time and reviews can become outdated, the best way for mental health professionals to choose what's best for them is to try out the app.

"Reviews are great if they cover the version you're looking for. But they can get out-of-date quickly. If you're buying a 2021 model car, would you want to rely on reviews from the 2015 model?" asks Steven Chan, MD, MBA, clinical assistant professor (affiliated) at the Stanford University School of Medicine and medical director for Digital Health, Addiction Consultation & Treatment at the VA Palo Alto Healthcare System.

"Review sites can only go so far in helping you choose," says Dr. Chan, who also works nationwide on policy and on grant-funded research on mHealth apps. "They are clues that can be helpful for clinicians in determining whether the app is right for their patient and for their own clinical use, which is why clinicians need to learn not just what makes a good app but also not be afraid to try it out for themselves since the cost is so low, and in some cases, free."

Dr. Chan gives an example of the mood-tracking app, Daylio, which he reports as easy to use and features a nice interface but, it does not offer advice or coaching. "This is why it's helpful to try out the app for yourself before you recommend it," he advises. "Sometimes the apps may not work for your patient's situation if they need more structure, more interactivity, or more culturally relevant content." ( More on mental health apps for individual need and disorders below.)

Privacy and Data

Privacy and user data collection can be concerns with mHealth apps, adds Julie Kolzet, PhD, a licensed clinical psychologist and member of Psycom Pro's Editorial Board. Dr. Kolzet favors the apps developed by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) because they are evidence-based, publicly funded, available to everyone, free, secure, and ensure data privacy. ⁵

"I think that patients like to know that their data is safe," she says. Dr. Kolzet adds that one of the "cooler" aspects of some apps is that users can interact with communities, but if there's no guarantee of privacy, the app might not be used to its full potential.

Individual Needs

Apps can be a good complement to treatment but there's no guarantee that an app will work for everyone. "It could be helpful to think about individual differences," Dr. Kolzet says. She shares a few examples:

One patient may benefit from an app for reminders while another may prefer a calendar-based app

If a client struggles with paranoia and feels they are being watched online, they may not feel comfortable with an app at all, especially those that feature video

Age matters, too. An older patient may prefer to talk on the phone rather than something involving video chat

A client with depression or struggling with basic functions may not be motivated to fill out an app throughout the day, making adherence with an app's prompts or data collection difficult

It's important to consider how those with substance use disorders may respond to mHealth apps as well, adds Dr. Chan. "When their disease and suffering are severe, patients may forget or lose their phones." He's also had some patients who change their phone numbers frequently, which can make using apps more difficult.

How to Integrate Mental Health Apps into Your Practice

Establishing parameters for app use in your practice is an important consideration in terms of your time commitment and the options offered to patients.

According to Dr. Kolzet, this means establishing boundaries. Questions to consider for your professional practice:

1. How much time are you able to devote to checking feedback from an app? For instance, daily? What if you use multiple apps for different types of client needs (eg, insomnia, PTSD)?

2. Will you - or a member of your staff -review every chat or patient upload? Will you need to document that information elsewhere?

"If the patient is doing adjunctive work outside the session, for example, we need to remain diligent, especially when making app-related clinical recommendations," explains Dr. Kolzet. "Once a therapist figures out how to incorporate apps into the treatment, they can make it a condition that is integral to the work or the service they provide." In other words, you can explain to clients that, they are not just relying on you for therapy, but that the app is also part of the therapy. In this case, it's useful to think about the extent to which app use may be optional for your clients.

"Let's say the provider is excited to use the app but the patient doesn't like it. What will you say as a provider? 'You can't work with me?' To what extent is it optional? It's very nuanced," Dr. Kolzet says.

It's a lot to consider, she says, and comes down to some basic questions:

1. For you (the provider), how can a mental health app be of use as an adjunctive intervention to what you are already doing?

2. For your clients, how can an app further their treatment goals?

3. Essentially, are you and your client able to approach the app from different sides but with the same goal?

There are technical considerations as well. For instance, Dr. Chan adds that it's important for clients and staff to feel comfortable using apps as a part of a treatment plan. This way, patients are more likely to stay engaged with the technology, and the clinician's ability to assess the patient's proficiency will be more valuable.

Apps that Help Treat Specific Mental Health Disorders

Below are a selection of available health apps and digital tools from trusted sources, such as the VA, including two that are FDA approved. Noted are those which have been reviewed by the American Psychiatric Association or recommended by organizations that support mental health. This list should provide a starting point for psychiatrists and psychotherapists looking to integrate mHealth apps into their practice.

Anxiety Apps

A search for "anxiety apps" on Google Play results in a variety of approaches including mindfulness, gratitude, stress relief, journaling, yoga, and self-hypnosis. When deciding on the best tactic for your clients, Dr. Chan recommends considering the cause of the person's anxiety. "With anxiety apps, it's just like self-help books: The message might be similar, but it should cater to your situation."

He says that the apps Calm, Headspace, and Daylio can be helpful trackers for people with anxiety. Calm and Headspace were also reviewed by a panel of APA experts. ⁶ Understanding the logic behind the ratings could help you evaluate the apps' potential for your practice.

Calm offers meditation help and designed to lower stress and anxiety and improve sleep. In addition to meditation exercises, the app includes sleep stories, breathing exercises along with soothing music and photos of nature.

Headspace focuses on guided meditation, mindfulness, and sleep and aims to reduce stress and anxiety with courses on meditation, workouts, and sleep improvement.

Daylio is a tracking app that helps users log moods, exercise, meals, activities and can function as a journal. Charts and stats can be reviewed for patterns or reflection. In terms of privacy, user data is stored locally, and data is not collected by the app's creator.

The VA' Mindfulness Coach introduces users to the practice of mindfulness with exercises, tracking, goal-setting, and access to support resources

For support during the pandemic, the VA launched its own app COVID Coach which helps users deal with the stresses of the pandemic by learning coping techniques, finding resources, and tracking moods, well-being, and symptoms of anxiety and PTSD.

Bipolar Disorder Apps

While the mental health community does not have any bipolar-specific apps in widespread use, Dr. Chan notes that mood- and sleep-tracking apps can be beneficial to this patient population. Noting that people with bipolar disorder often experience sleep disturbance, wearables such as smartwatches and fitness trackers that have built-in sleep monitors can track sleep without waking the user. While these technologies "don't send clinical alerts and aren't made specifically to treat bipolar disorder, [their] sensor data could be useful for tracking mood episodes," he adds.

A study published in the International Journal of Bipolar Disorders found a lack of reliable data for consumers searching for evidence-based apps to help with bipolar disorder. ⁷ Highlighting the need for a system that can evaluate mHealth apps in the mental health care space, the authors actually developed an assessment framework and database based on the APA's App Advisor model for this purpose. ⁸

One of the bipolar-centric apps reviewed by this database is eMoods, which was also recommended by bp Magazine, a publication focused on the bipolar community.

eMoods Bipolar Mood Tracker helps patients track moods, sleep, and medication dosages and data can be exported to share with providers. The app states that user data is not stored in the cloud and doesn't leave the device unless prompted by the user.

iMoodJournal is designed to track moods and create charts for users to see patterns of their moods and experiences. This app was also recommended by bp Magazine.

Depression Apps

Mood-tracking apps can be helpful to manage depression and are a handy replacement for the pen-and-paper method of tracking behaviors, moods, and patterns on worksheets. "Apps can not only make the process come more alive, but they can give reminders to log moods and track trends over time, so those can be very helpful in describing what your days have been looking like," Dr. Chan says.

A panel of experts at the American Psychiatric Association reviewed the following apps - perhaps even more useful to clinicians, the reviews explain how they arrived at their decisions. ⁹

Sanvello is designed to help reduce stress, anxiety, and depression symptoms. Reviewers suggested this could help people with mild to moderate depression but not moderate to severe depression.

Mood Tools is a mood-tracking app that focuses on alleviating depression symptoms. Reviewers liked the app's features such as the Thought Diary, activity and video suggestions, PH-9 questionnaire, and suicide safety plan.

Eating Disorder Apps

See our guide to apps for eating disorders and treatment adherence.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Apps

The VA provides several apps aimed at managing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), including three that received favorable reviews ¹⁰ by experts from the APA: PTSD Coach, CPT Coach, and PE Coach. The National Center for PTSD provides a full list ¹¹ of other VA apps that may help individuals with PTSD.

PTSD Coach offers education, self-assessments, and tools such as mindfulness, breathing, sleep, and grounding to help manage symptoms.

CPT Coach is designed to enhance Cognitive Processing Therapy treatment with a clinician.

PE Coach supports Prolonged Exposure therapy treatment with a clinician.

PTSD Family Coach provides information and support for people living with someone with PTSD

FDA approval of a digital therapeutic tool in a wearable device designed to reduce PTSD-related nightmares was announced in November 2020. The technology, called Nightware, works with an Apple Watch and iPhone to first analyze sleep patterns based on heart rate and movement (establishing the user's baseline). If its algorithm detects that the user is having a nightmare, the watch sends vibrations that are designed to interrupt the nightmare but not awaken the person, according to the product's website. It is available by prescription only.

Schizophrenia Apps

The Schizophrenia and Related Disorders Alliance of America (SARDAA) recommends SARDAA Health Storylines, a free app designed to help patients with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. The app allows patients to track symptoms and moods, get reminders to take medication and for upcoming appointments, record questions for their clinician, import data from other health apps, and connect with their support team.

UCSF Prime, developed by the University of California San Francisco, is listed on the App Store and Google Play but is only available to research participants at this time. An email address is provided if a patient wishes to be considered as a study participant.

A study in Schizophrenia Research found that an app helped patients with schizophrenia upon discharge from a psychiatric hospital.¹² Using the FOCUS app, patients were able to find support for their symptoms, particularly outside regular office hours. The FOCUS app is not yet available to the public but one of the researchers is hopeful that revised versions will be available in the near future.¹³

Dr. Chan says that while he has yet to come across any apps in widespread use for schizophrenia, he has seen some developments in the research phase. He gives an example of software that could help patients with schizophrenia reduce the intensity of their hallucinations by mimicking the visuals experienced by the person with a 3D representation of what they reported seeing; the software coaches them through how to reduce the hallucinations.

Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Apps

Many apps related to substance use disorder (SUD) are focused on education, says Dr. Chan. As an example, apps from smokefree.gov give reminders to help people quit, which can be helpful when combined with coaching or medicines to reduce cravings. He also shares an example of an app that helps people when they start taking buprenorphine to treat opioid use disorder (OUD) - the app (BUP Home Induction, listed below), with input from the prescribing clinician, manages their gradual dose increases to improve adherence.

QuitGuide and QuitStart were created by smokefree.gov, which is produced by the Tobacco Control Research Branch at the National Cancer Institute, the FDA, smoking cessation experts, and ex-smokers. The two apps help users manage cravings with distractions like games and challenges, earn badges for milestones, share progress on social media, and get inspiration and tips.

The VA's Stay Quit Coach provides information about quitting smoking, helps users tailor a plan to quit, and helps cope with cravings.

The VA also offers VetChange, which helps veterans and civilians learn about changing their drinking behaviors and how drinking can relate to PTSD symptoms. Education about reducing and quitting drinking and tools for managing stress are provided.

BUP Home Induction helps people begin their buprenorphine treatment by guiding them through the schedule of their prescription.

Two FDA-authorized prescription digital therapeutics were shown to improve treatment outcomes: reSET for patients with SUD and reSET-O for OUD. Both tools allow clinicians to view patient data via a dashboard and adjust the ongoing medication-assisted treatment plan.

Serious Mental Illness Apps

The SMI Advisor was created by SAMHSA and the American Psychiatric Association. The app features all the available resources of the SMI Adviser website, which can help clinicians find answers about treating patients with serious mental illness. The app offers educational resources to patients and families.

SMI Adviser also produces My Mental Health Crisis Plan, an app that enables patients to create a psychiatric advance directive.

The Expansion of Mobile Health Apps for Mental Health Services

One way that the mental health apps listed herein could further engage and benefit individuals with mental health disorders is if developers designed versions specifically for the needs of different groups of people. Dr. Chan says that the potential of mHealth apps to reach different patient populations could increase if targeted to specific cultures, languages, and sexes, for example.

"People want to feel understood when they're using apps" he explains. "What works for college mental health, where there is pressure because of exams, is a completely different set of pressures from adult life." Essentially, individualizing and personalizing apps could boost their effectiveness.

For instance, a team of VA researchers have proposed changes to an app that helps people manage dangerous drinking habits, called Step Away, to make the app more relatable to veterans. Their research included re-tooling the app to include veteran-specific language and imagery in a new version that they call Stand Down. ¹⁴ After a successful pilot, the team proposed a larger study that would include patients across multiple VA care centers. ¹⁵ (As of January 2021, they are awaiting funding.)

"It's a very, very exciting time and we need more expertise," Dr. Chan says. "There's a lot of work that needs to be done to advocate so we can continue using these apps, particularly after the public health emergency ends."

Dr. Kolzet also feels a sense of optimism for the future of apps and similar technology in mental health. "I'm excited to see how digital tools and apps, etc., will continue to be implemented into the therapeutic space," she says. "I think technologies that can help identify patients who could benefit most from one type of therapy versus another will be the ones that are going to stand out... [such as those] that help us triage or stratify by need level or risk level."

Additionally, she suggests that combining self-reported client data, therapist observations, and objective data from wearables (such as fitness trackers that collect biometric data) could be a promising prospect. "If we could find a way to make it all work together - the therapist, app, wearables, tools - that would be ideal," she says.
See also, how digital mental health models are reshaping private practice, and our sister site Psycom's consumer list of top mental health apps.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Mental Health Apps: A Practitioner's Guide to Using Apps as Adjuncts

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
As we simultaneously get close to spring and enter a phase of cautious optimism about the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, some of your clients may be thinking about starting new self-care routines or tweaking old ones.

# data[].attributes.body
Mental Health Problem:
Lack of Accessibility of Care. There are significant barriers preventing people from seeking professional help, especially in areas which do not have the experts or resources to do so.

Technological Solutions:
Telehealth technology (eg. videoconferencing and apps)
Mental health care can be delivered in a live, interactive communication. It can also involve recording medical information (images, videos, etc.) and sending this to a distant site for later review.

Explanation:
Improve access to quality care for rural areas without facilities and experts
Improve continuity of care
Fewer barriers such as stigma / transportation
Can create enhanced feelings of safety, security and privacy for many patients.
Less expensive

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Telemedicine is the process of providing health care from a distance through technology, often using videoconferencing. Telepsychiatry, a subset of telemedicine, can involve providing a range of services including psychiatric evaluations, therapy (individual therapy, group therapy, family therapy), patient education and medication management.

Telepsychiatry can involve direct interaction between a psychiatrist and the patient. It also encompasses psychiatrists supporting primary care providers with mental health care consultation and expertise. Mental health care can be delivered in a live, interactive communication. It can also involve recording medical information (images, videos, etc.) and sending this to a distant site for later review.

Benefits

Video-based telepsychiatry helps meet patients' needs for convenient, affordable and readily-accessible mental health services. It can benefit patients in a number of ways, such as:

Improve access to mental health specialty care that might not otherwise be available (e.g., in rural areas)

Bring care to the patient's location

Help integrate behavioral health care and primary care, leading to better outcomes

Reduce the need for trips to the emergency room

Reduce delays in care

Improve continuity of care and follow-up

Reduce the need for time off work, childcare services, etc. to access appointments far away

Reduce potential transportation barriers, such as lack of transportation or the need for long drives

Reduce the barrier of stigma

While some people may be reluctant or feel awkward talking to a person on a screen, experience shows most people are comfortable with it. Some people may be more relaxed and willing to open up from the comfort of their home or a convenient local facility. Also, this will likely be less of a problem as people become more familiar and comfortable with video communication in everyday life.

Telepsychiatry allows psychiatrists to treat more patients in distant locations. Psychiatrists and other clinicians need to be licensed in the state(s) where the patient they are working with is located. State licensing boards and legislatures view the location of the patient as the place where "the practice of medicine" occurs.

Although telepsychiatry has the disadvantage of the patient and psychiatrist not being in the same room, it can create enhanced feelings of safety, security and privacy for many patients.

Evidence for Effectiveness

There is substantial evidence of the effectiveness of telepsychiatry and research has found satisfaction to be high among patients, psychiatrists and other professionals. Telepsychiatry is equivalent to in-person care in diagnostic accuracy, treatment effectiveness, quality of care and patient satisfaction. Patient privacy and confidentiality are equivalent to in-person care.

Research has also found that overall experiences among all age groups have been good. There is evidence for children, adolescents and adults regarding assessment and treatment (medication and therapy). There are even people for which telemedicine may be preferable to in-person care, for example people with autism or severe anxiety disorders and patients with physical limitations may find the remote treatment particularly useful.

Telepsychiatry has been found especially effective with respect to the treatment of PTSD, depression, and ADHD. See more on the evidence base for telepsychiatry.

Used in a Variety of Settings

Telepsychiatry is used in a variety of different settings, including private practice, outpatient clinics, hospitals, correctional facilities, schools, nursing homes, and military treatment facilities.

Patients can schedule appointments individually with a psychiatrist or therapist for a live video appointment. This can be with a regular provider if they offer the service or through one of a number of companies offering access to mental health clinicians for video appointments. Patients should plan ahead and prepare the just as for an in-person appointment. Have any relevant records and information, including prescriptions, and have a list of questions to address.

Telepsychiatry is helping bring more timely psychiatric care to emergency rooms. An estimated one in eight emergency room visits involves a mental health and/or substance use condition, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Many emergency rooms are not equipped to handle people with serious mental health issues and do not have psychiatrists or other mental health clinicians on staff to assess and treat mental health problems. A 2016 poll of emergency room physicians found only 17 percent reported having a psychiatrist on call to respond to psychiatric emergencies.

Telepsychiatry is being used in nursing homes to provide both ongoing psychiatric evaluation and care and emergency crisis intervention when it may be difficult to find a local psychiatrist to assist. Many states use telepsychiatry in corrections facilities where inmates frequently require ongoing mental health care.

Cost and Insurance

Click to view larger image

Currently, 43 states and the District of Columbia have laws that govern private payer reimbursement for telehealth (Image: The Public Health Institute/The Center for Connected Health Policy, State Telehealth Laws and Reimbursement Policy Spring 2020 Report).

Fifty states and Washington, D.C. reimburse for some form of live video telehealth in Medicaid fee-for-service. Comparatively, only 16 state Medicaid programs reimburse for store-and-forward services ("asynchronous telemedicine").

That said, state Medicaid policies, rules, and laws are continuing to evolve. Medicare will reimburse for telepsychiatry services if the community is considered rural, and requires the patient to report to an "Originating Site," unless that patient has a substance use disorder (Medicare will also cover any co-occurring diagnosis), under the SUPPORT Act. During a public health emergency, Medicare beneficiaries, regardless of geographic location, may be seen in the home (Medicare Telemedicine Health Care Fact Sheet).

Definition of Terms

APA Position Statement on Telemedicine in Psychiatry

Telemedicine in psychiatry, using video conferencing, is a validated and effective practice of medicine that increases access to care. The American Psychiatric Association supports the use of telemedicine as a legitimate component of a mental health delivery system to the extent that its use is for the benefit of the patient, protects patient autonomy, confidentiality, and privacy; and when used consistent with APA policies on medical ethics and applicable governing law. (APA Committee on Telepsychiatry, Approved February 2018).

Asynchronous or "Store and Forward": Capture and then transfer of data from one site to another through the use of a camera or similar device that records (stores) an image that is sent (forwarded) via telecommunication to another site for consultation.

Distant Site: Site at which the physician or other licensed practitioner delivering the service is located at the time the service is provided via telecommunications system. eHealth: Health care practice supported by electronic processes and communication.

Electronic Health Record (EHR): A systematic collection of electronic health information about individual patients or populations that is recorded in digital format and capable of being shared across health care settings via information networks or exchanges. EHRs generally include patient demographics, medical history, medication, allergies, immunization status, laboratory test results, radiology and other medical images, vital signs, characteristics such as age and weight, and billing information.

e-Prescribing: The electronic generation, transmission and filling of medical prescriptions, as opposed to traditional paper and faxed prescriptions. E-prescribing allows qualified health care personnel to send new prescriptions or renewals to community or mail-order pharmacies.

HIPAA: Acronym for Health Information Portability and Accountability Act. HIPAA protects the privacy of individually identifiable health information, sets national standards for the security of electronic protected health information, and protects identifiable information being used to analyze patient safety events and improve patient safety. More about HIPAA.

Originating Site: Location of the patient at the time the service is provided via a telecommunications system.

Synchronous: Interactive video connections that transmit information in both directions during the same time period.

Teleconferencing: Interactive electronic communication (voice, video, and/or data transmission) between multiple users at two or more sites.

Teleconsultation: Consultation between a provider and specialist located at a distance using either store and forward telemedicine or real time videoconferencing.

Telehealth and Telemedicine: Telemedicine is the use of medical information exchanged from one site to another via electronic communications to improve patients' health status. Closely associated with telemedicine is the term "telehealth," which is often used to encompass a broader definition of remote health care that does not always involve clinical services. Videoconferencing, transmission of still images, e-health including patient portals, remote monitoring of vital signs and nursing call centers are all considered part of telemedicine and telehealth. Telemedicine is not a separate medical specialty. Telemedicine encompasses different types of programs and services provided for the patient.

Videoconferencing: Real-time transmission of digital video images between multiple locations.

(Glossary sources: American Telemedicine Association, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services - Telemedicine, National Center for Telehealth and Technology)
Resources/References Physician Review By:
Jay H. Shore, M.D., M.P.H.
Associate Professor, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
Chair, APA Committee on Telepsychiatry
August, 2020

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Telemedicine is the process of providing health care from a distance through technology, often using videoconferencing. Telepsychiatry, a subset of telemedicine, can involve providing a range of services including psychiatric evaluations, therapy (individual therapy, group therapy, family therapy), patient education and medication management. Telepsychiatry can involve direct interaction between a psychiatrist and the patient.

# data[].attributes.body
Mental health problem: It is hard for the mentally unhealthy/unstable to trust others.  when feeling down, or having insecurities etc., people inherently want to be affirmed by someone and comforted, but are ultimately overpowered by their fear of reaching out to others and exposing their own failures and problems. Also, the struggle to find a judgment-free zone and overcome all the human problems with opening up (like having to think whether the other party will be affected by what you say ) make it difficult for someone to open up. Also, humans are not always free to talk, giving a sense of unreliability. Overthinking worsens this as they find it hard to trust anyone.

Technological solution: Chatbots powered by AI reply within their limited capabilities

explanation: they give the perceived safety of not being judged by anyone, and allow people to vent their emotions in a safe space with a dependable response affirming them. Also, it avoids the human complications of power dynamics, taking into account the other party’s emotions and other difficulties that come up when opening up to someone real. Bots have no emotions and always provide the desired response. They are dependable and ever present, making them easy to trust. In the hardship-adverse mindset, this is a much easier and simpler solution to overcome that desire to reach out.

problem: they are robots and cannot empathise.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Robots and chatbots can help alleviate the mental health epidemic

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A new survey shows that more people are prepared to embrace technology to improve their emotional well-being.