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15 August 2023
Visiting researchers want to reach out with digital psychological treatment
Alexander Rozental is an expert in procrastination. He himself usually does not postpone things, but he knows the psychological mechanisms behind the behavior. As a new Associate Visiting Professor at Luleå University of Technology, he will teach, continue to explore online treatment, and hope to implement digital care in practice.
“It is interesting with a technical university that has teaching and research in psychology. There are so many possibilities regarding digital psychological treatment, which is something I want to further develop in my research,” says Alexander Rozental, Associate Professor at Uppsala University, and new Associate Visiting Professor of psychology at Luleå University of Technology.
Research on digital treatment is not new for Alexander Rozental. In a series of studies, he has investigated Internet-based psychological treatment. In addition, his research also concerns when treatment does not help, both online and traditional.
“In common forms of mental illness, about half of the patients are helped by their treatment, for the other half the situation remains unchanged or become worse. Compared to medical treatment, the numbers are not bad, but there is also a lot of potential to help more. I want to find which factors influence when treatment doesn't work, and new ways for the half that wasn't helped,” he says.
Transfer research to practice
At Luleå University of Technology, Alexander Rozental will both conduct research and teach. Already during the autumn, he is scheduled to teach in courses in psychological treatment. He will also take part in the work behind establishing a study programme for University Diploma in psychology.
The research will have a digital and practical focus – what opportunities are there to implement digital solutions within regular healthcare?
“We already know a lot about digital treatment. Implementation is a challenge though; how can the knowledge be transferred to reality. It is relevant not least in an area like Norrbotten with large distances. If certain physical visits can be replaced with digital solutions, we can reach further and help people who would otherwise have lack of access to healthcare. Digital solutions will never completely replace physical meetings but are needed as an alternative. I hope to conduct studies which will benefit the patients,” says Alexander Rozental.
Another advantage of digital treatment is also the possibilities to collect data for further research.
“This could help us to find success factors and create customized treatments.”
Outreach by writing books
Alexander Rozental wants to reach out with his research. Both by implementing it and by writing popular science books. He has studied behaviors that are not diagnoses but can still lead to problems, including perfectionism and procrastination. This has resulted in three books. The latest book "Better than perfect" is a self-help book for perfectionists, and the one before, "Ten to twelve", is based on a study about New Year's resolutions. The reader will find the psychological explanation for how to succeed in making a change.
Before the current role as visiting researcher, Alexander Rozental has visited Luleå University of Technology to lecture on procrastination. In addition to that, he has close contacts with the region privately as his husband is from Norrbotten. He often visits Luleå and Överkalix and enjoys skiing in Riksgränsen. In his spare time, he wants to be as active as possible.
“I find it hard to sit still, I often go running, ski a lot and have found a new interest in cross-country ice-skating. But I also like to read a lot, mostly fiction to relax from my work.”
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