Overview of the use of digital technologies in psychotherapy: effectiveness, accessibility and ethical challenges

Introduction and objective: Modern technologies such as artificial intelligence, virtual/augmented reality, telepsychotherapy and chatbots are playing an increasing role in psychotherapy. The aim of this article is to analyse the impact of these technologies on accessibility, effectiveness of interventions and ethical issues related to their use. Materials and methods: A literature review was conducted using PubMed, PsycINFO and IEEE Xplore databases. The analysis included empirical studies on the effectiveness and challenges of using technologies such as artificial intelligence, telepsychotherapy, virtual/augmented reality and mobile apps in different therapeutic contexts. Results: Research suggests increased effectiveness of therapies using these technologies, particularly in the treatment of anxiety disorders, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Virtual reality offers the potential for controlled exposure therapies, and chatbots offer ongoing support and monitoring of patients. However, the literature also highlights challenges, including the risk of invasion of privacy, ethical dilemmas associated with automating some aspects of the therapeutic process, and potential limitations due to the lack of direct patient–therapist contact. Conclusions: Digital technologies have significant potential to improve the accessibility and quality of psychotherapy. However, their implementation requires a thoughtful approach that takes into account the need to protect patient data, to train clinicians in the use of new tools, and to balance the use of technology with the maintenance of key elements of the therapeutic relationship.