Digital Technologies and Autotraining: Exploring the Viability of a Technological Solution

Daria Trutneva
This article analyzes the role of modern digital technologies in the fields of health, psychotherapy, psychology, and self-help. A review of various studies in the field of digital medicine is conducted, showing that digital health applications can be a practical solution to improve mental and psychological health.

Furthermore, digital psychotherapy can serve as a preventive tool to avert the development of mental disorders, increase the ability to deal with stress and mental problems and grow self-confidence. The results of a study using a multimedia tool, Master Kit, are also discussed, which showed that the device could be effectively used for self-training and to transform personal beliefs. This study highlights the importance of digital health solutions in the current global environment and their potential benefits.

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the urgency of providing psychotherapy to the general population. Long-term social distancing and self-isolation measures have made it challenging to receive mental health help. Online consultations, digital tools, and digital psychotherapy have become popular during this period. This article highlights the growing trend of digital health solutions and their potential benefits, including virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and gaming technologies in psychotherapy. Recent studies have shown positive results in treating mental health conditions like depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and drug addiction using digital therapy.

Several studies have demonstrated the potential of digital technologies in psychotherapy. For example, Iyadurai L. et al. [1] conducted an online survey that showed that most respondents preferred to receive treatment via a mobile phone, and using a computer game like Tetris reduced intrusive memories by 62% in a week compared to the control group. Eshuis L.V et al. [2] presented an overview of the available data on virtual reality exposure therapy and augmented reality exposure therapy as a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder, showing that these digitally assisted psychotherapy methods can improve treatment efficacy. Garot T. et al. [3] developed an algorithm for working with digital applications to collect longitudinal data to predict and track the dynamics of post-traumatic stress disorder, making preventative measures accessible to many populations.

Renn B.N. et al. [4] compared patients’ preferences for in-person or digital therapy methods, showing that digital therapy has the advantage of no physical barriers. Finally, Schuster R. et al. [5] demonstrated the effectiveness of combination treatment of depression, showing that combining in-person and digital therapy can lead to a more significant reduction in symptoms, supported therapeutic progress, and improved mental health and quality of life. These studies show the potential of digital health solutions to improve mental and psychological health.

The potential applications of digital gaming technologies in psychotherapy for various cognitive learning and biofeedback disorders have been discussed in the study of Vajawat B. et al. [6]. They demonstrated that digital gaming technologies can prevent aging and dementia, treat drug addiction and impulse control disorder, manage depression, and treat Autism Spectrum Disorders and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. The study highlighted the opportunities of applied video games in digital therapy, including the frequency of playing video games, involvement to complete digital exposure, accessibility of digital exposure, the ability to target a specific population group, and the possibility of maintaining anonymity and confidentiality.

Huckvale K. et al. [7] reviewed studies that focused on the potential roles of mobile applications in treating mental illness. The authors drew attention to several factors that could not be ignored when using mobile applications as a safe and effective treatment for various mental illnesses. These included the therapeutic approaches used, the clinical safety of the application’s content, data privacy and security, the likely constant interaction with the application, and the ways digital tools would integrate with the existing methods. These studies show the potential of digital health solutions in mental health, but mental health providers must exercise caution in their implementation to ensure safety and efficacy.

Bakker D. et al. [8,9] conducted a literature review focused on the research in mental health, preventative medicine, and mobile application design. They provided an overview of mental health applications (MHapps), compared their effectiveness, and recommended creating better, more accurate applications. The authors concluded that these applications were a practical solution that could improve the users’ mental health, increase confidence in their ability to cope with stress and mental problems and serve as a tool to prevent mental disorders. They also noted that the development of new MHapps would be primarily for research purposes and not to satisfy the end-users needs.

Ly K. et al. [10] described an experiment in which a mobile application that diagnosed the level of depression, anxiety, and stress in young people was used—the application simulated therapy by allowing the user to interact with a chatbot. The results demonstrated that the experimental group significantly increased mental well-being, stress management, and more. The participants showed high involvement compared to other studies on fully automated interventions. These studies demonstrate the potential of MHapps in the field of mental health and show the importance of designing accurate and practical applications.

The authors suggested that future studies in the field of mobile applications for mental health should take into account the following issues: the importance of appropriate control groups, the length of the intervention period, a better understanding of the impact of the application, the necessity of testing the applications with different populations, and a more thorough analysis of the individual components of the application. The authors also noted the need for more transparent and comprehensive reporting of research results. They concluded that mobile applications have great potential to improve mental health but that further research and development are needed to maximize their effectiveness.

Materials and methods

The survey included questions related to the users’ satisfaction with the method, the effectiveness of the tool in helping them reach their goals, and the users’ overall experience using the Master Kit [11].

The data obtained from the survey were analyzed using statistical methods. The trial was conducted over three months [12]. At the beginning of the prosecution and after its completion, data were obtained on the following:

· reflection, introspection, being conscious of the “here and now” state

· Identification of individual goal-orientation

· Creating an image of the result (the goal) and its outlines

· Creating a plan to achieve a goal, identifying its positive aspects, possible difficulties, and risks

· self-training and self-suggestion, a transformation of personal beliefs.

The results showed that the experimental group users who followed the Master Kit method at least five times a week experienced significant improvements in all areas compared to the control group users who did not follow the method’s conditions. The experimental group reported higher reflection, introspection, and consciousness of the “here and now” state.

They also reported better identification of individual goal orientation, creating a clearer image of the desired result, and creating a more effective plan to achieve their goals. The users in the experimental group also reported a greater degree of self-training and self-suggestion, leading to a transformation of personal beliefs.

Overall, the study showed that the Master Kit method could be an effective tool for helping individuals transform their limiting beliefs and achieve their personal goals. It highlights the importance of following the method’s conditions to achieve the desired results.

Results

The experimental group showed a higher level of consciousness of their current state, a clearer understanding of their goals, and a better ability to create a plan to achieve them. The respondents in the experimental group also reported an increase in positive emotions and a decrease in negative ones. In contrast, the control group did not experience significant changes in their self-help skills. The results suggest that the Master Kit method effectively transforms limiting beliefs and improves users’ self-help skills when used consistently and correctly.

These results suggest that working with the Master Kit method can significantly improve individuals’ self-help skills, particularly in areas such as creating a clear image of their goals and developing a plan to achieve them. Additionally, the study highlights the importance of professional help in properly self-training and improving one’s mental state. Further research could explore the long-term effects of using the Master Kit method and the potential benefits of combining it with other digital psychotherapy methods.

The study found that at the beginning of the trial, the Master Kit users had irrational beliefs, such as catastrophizing, unrealistic expectations, and low frustration tolerance. However, after three months of using the Master Kit method, the users experienced significant changes in their skills, particularly in creating an image of the result (the goal) and developing a plan to achieve the goal, as well as in individual goal-orientation and the ability to independently self-train.

The satisfaction survey showed that almost half of the respondents met their expectations. Many experienced significant changes in their lives, including improvements in relationships, health, finances, and finding their life purpose. The users who regularly practiced the method were generally satisfied with it and thought the changes in their lives were significant, transforming their goal-setting beliefs.

However, the study also found that the Master Kit method could not entirely remove the subjects’ irrational beliefs. At the end of the trial, some users exhibited similar irrational beliefs as they had at the start of the trial.

Discussion

In conclusion, the study showed that the Master Kit multimedia tool could effectively transform personal beliefs through auto-training. The method users reported improvements in their ability to visualize their goals, determine how to reach them and make positive changes in their personal lives. While three months of daily use may be sufficient to manage negative mental states, a more extended period of digital support may be necessary to transform deeply ingrained limiting beliefs such as individuality and life purpose.

This tool can be recommended to psychotherapists, training centers, and other interested professionals as an effective method for self-training and improving goal-setting abilities. The study highlights the potential benefits of digital psychotherapy and suggests that further research into the impact of digital therapy on personal traits is needed.

Conclusion

Our study found that psychotherapists have a positive attitude toward virtual reality. Self-training activities using the Master Kit method effectively transform personal limiting beliefs and increase users’ self-awareness. Gradually changing limiting beliefs involves reflection, goal orientation, visualization, plant identification, and self-regulation. New users may need external help to articulate their life goals, as they tend to have irrational limiting beliefs that can cause stress. However, regular practice with the Master Kit method can help users master self-training techniques and improve their ability to visualize and reach their goals. Our experimental data support the theory that Master Kit can transform personal beliefs through auto-training.

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11. Master Kit

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