Digital technology in mental health: limits and potential

The aim of this study was to identify the limits and potentialities of providing mental health care through digital technology. This is a scoping review with a search strategy conducted in the MEDLINE, LILACS, Scopus, Web of Science, and CINHAL databases, using the keywords "mental health care," "psychiatry," "telemedicine," and "technology". Potentialities highlighted include increased access to healthcare, reduced stigma, anonymity, resource flexibility, cost reduction, and the elimination of physical and geographical barriers. Among the limitations, issues such as lack of internet access, limited knowledge of technologies, privacy and security concerns, maintenance costs of applications, digital literacy, and difficulties in maintaining a therapeutic relationship with the patient were mentioned. Thus, it is evident that mental health care through the use of technologies, despite implementation challenges, has the potential to improve health outcomes and the performance of mental health services.