Technology-Facilitated Assessment, Monitoring, Treatment, and Intervention for Mental Health and Behavioral Issues Among Individuals With Special Needs

Children and youth with disabilities are at a high risk of developing mental health and behavioral disorders due to functional limitations in important cognitive, social, emotional, and communication domains. The purpose of this study is to describe the status of current research on technology-based solutions to address mental health and behavioral challenges among individuals with special needs. Several trends were noted. First, there has been an increasing acceptance of telemental health provision. Second, contemporary research has gone far beyond voice calling, texting, emailing, video chatting, or videoconferencing. The authors highlight advanced technologies such as web-based interactive modules, computer games, virtual reality, wearable devices, and artificial intelligence. Third, technology-based solutions have been developed targeting a wide range of mental health and behavioral issues, ranging from anxiety, stress, depression, loneliness, aggression, eating disorder, to PTSD. One population of special needs, autism spectrum disorder, has received an exceptional amount of attention.