Promoting mental health recovery and improving clinical assessment using video technology.

TOPIC: Although individuals with medical problems (e.g., diabetes, hypertension) can monitor their symptoms using objective measures (e.g., blood glucose, blood pressure), objective measures are not typically used by individuals with psychotic disorders to monitor symptoms of mental illness.

PURPOSE: To examine the benefits and limitations of the use of video self-observation for treatment of individuals with psychotic disorders.

SOURCES USED: The authors reviewed studies examining video self-observation among individuals with severe mental illnesses.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Individuals with psychotic disorders who viewed videos of themselves while symptomatic reported some benefit to this approach, with 1 study showing sustained improvement in understanding of mental illness. Still, some individuals reported negative feelings about the process, and also attributed symptoms to stress or drug abuse rather than their psychotic disorder. The authors found no studies examining the potential for video self-observation as a strategy to improve clinical decision-making in the context of mental health care. Implications of this approach for mental health recovery and clinical practice are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record