Frequently Asked Questions
Digital therapeutics
What are digital therapeutics?
The term Digital Therapeutics refers to high quality software apps that deliver therapeutic interventions to patients through smart devices and computers. They can be used to treat many healthcare conditions, including addiction, chronic diseases, and mental health disorders.
How do digital therapeutics work?
Many of the digital therapeutic software programs utilize a behavioral healthcare term called CBT — Cognitive Behavior Therapy. CBT is one of the gold standards behavioral health specialists use for behavior change and conditions like addiction, insomnia, and depression.
Are there any disadvantages of digital therapeutics?
There are some disadvantages to digital therapeutics. Because this is a new area of healthcare, there is not a lot of information on the long-term efficacy. In addition, many components go into making an app’s User Interface and User Experience sticky so that patients will use them daily. If the app is not user friendly, patients may not use them.
Do digital therapeutics work with therapy?
Most of the current digital therapeutic companies are focused on diseases or disorders with a behavioral component that can be leveraged to improve health. Digital therapeutics are not meant to replace a healthcare professional, they are designed to be tools that are used in conjunction with a healthcare professional such as a therapist and/or pharmaceuticals.
What are some examples of digital therapeutics?
Pear Therapeutics was the first company to clear the FDA for a digital therapeutic in 2017. Since then, the FDA has cleared over 30 digital therapeutics. Some of the conditions the cleared apps treat include addiction, opioid use disorder, insomnia, ADHD, lower back pain, cancer management, insulin dose titration, and to reduce panic symptoms.