>The ability to digitize and aggregate the data, and maybe even subject it to some kinds of AI, might result in massive improvement in therapy. But do we need

>The ability to digitize and aggregate the data, and maybe even subject it to some kinds of AI, might result in massive improvement in therapy. But do we need new therapies? CBT, mindfulness, etc - there are a lot of therapies that work VERY WELL. Especially (and this is anecdotal, from friends), combined with things like replacing alcohol with marijuana, reducing or eliminating caffeine, eating well (avoiding sugar / white bread and other carbs), and getting regular exercise. But we live in a sick society, where the above are often untenable. Therapy? That's 1:1, time intensive, and insurance abhors it if a pill can do the job. Marijuana? Illegal, or expensive and over regulated when legal. Exercise? Hard to do if you have long hours and a long commute. Healthy food? Expensive, sometimes hard to cook. (I looked at an Indian recipe book for vegetarian ideas and many of the things I love, like palak paneer, are very labor intensive). But put someone on antidepressants or other pills that are covered by insurance or purchased in generic? That's a simple solution, so it's what's used, even as patients suffer HORRIFIC symptoms going off these meds when they do not work. Imagine mustering the courage to ask for help, being given a pill that does not, and makes you have trouble doing the work that gets you insurance. And then not to mention the therapists themselves - having to find the right one, and that's if you just don't mesh and don't have a very bad experience. I'd argue a lot of what we call "depression" or "anxiety" are actually quite normal responses to a sick system in desperate need of change and people are often "nudged" by the system to do the "wrong" thing then punished for following the path laid out for them.