Technological addiction is the excessive and uncontrollable use of digital technology. The addiction aspect stems from the compulsive use of this technology which can have unfortunate impacts on younger demographics. It makes it all the more necessary for mental health practitioners treating younger patients to provide parents with education relating to the disease when patients show warning signs.
Understanding technological addiction
Behavioral addictions often create a dependency that disrupts daily life and relationships. As adolescent's and teenagers' brains are still developing, the regions responsible for impulse control still need to be fully formed. It makes them far more susceptible to the immediate gratification and reward system technology offers, especially gaming and social media.
When exasperated by a lack of boundaries around the use of devices, there is a concern that shifts from the amount of time that is spent on technology to the content that is being viewed. A 2020 study published in Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience, “Screen time is set to increase even more among adolescents, and consistent with main take-home messages from the review of the literature to date, parents, educators, and clinicians should be concerned less with how much time young people are spending online and more with how they are spending their time online.”
The benefit of educating parents the right way
Providing parents with accurate, balanced information mental health practitioners can instill a realistic understanding of the pitfalls of technological addiction without fear mongering. This means that practitioners like psychiatrists are responsible for correctly and impartially diagnosing patients.
Only based on a complete diagnosis can parents then be included in the treatment of a minor. This treatment however should be based upon a less negative approach to technology as this can cause unnecessary conflict between parent and child. Instead, technology should be framed as a tool with parents being encouraged to create boundaries for their child to follow.
Why HIPAA compliant email is the best way to educate parents
Email provides a way to educate patients that they are more than likely familiar with and, therefore, trust. It allows for the distribution of a wealth of resources and insights for parents. The information can then be engaged with at their convenience without the pressure of deadlines.
The use of HIPAA compliant email adds benefits by ensuring communication remains safe. Parents can share questions and request additional information without the risk of their child's information being exposed to the risk of unauthorized access.
FAQs
What is unauthorized access?
It refers to gaining access to a system, network, or data without permission.
When is consent necessary?
Consent is necessary when protected health information is shared in a way not provided for under HIPAA.
Do email attachments need to be encrypted for the email to be HIPAA compliant?
Yes, email attachments have to be secured for an email to be compliant.
Kirsten Peremore
