You Can’t Launch This: Trust as Infrastructure in Digital Behavioral Health
-
By
-
Trevor van Mierlo
-
June 22, 2026
-
Clinical Scorecard: Building Trust as a Fundamental Component in Digital Behavioral Health Initiatives
At a Glance
| Category | Detail |
|---|
| Condition | Digital Behavioral Health |
| Key Mechanisms | Trust as a critical infrastructure in digital health systems. |
| Target Population | Individuals engaging with digital behavioral health platforms. |
| Care Setting | Digital health initiatives and platforms. |
Key Highlights
- Trust and engagement are distinct concepts.
- AI systems require trust as an integral component, not just a feature.
- Dynamic consent and governance are essential for maintaining trust.
- Trust issues can arise from social, technical, and institutional layers.
- Behavioral data authenticity may be compromised by user distrust.
Guideline-Based Recommendations
Diagnosis
Management
Monitoring & Follow-up
Risks
- Trust can fail at multiple layers, impacting user engagement and data authenticity.
Patient & Prescribing Data
Users of digital behavioral health systems.
Engagement metrics may not reflect the authenticity of user data.
Clinical Best Practices
- Implement dynamic consent mechanisms to adapt to user interactions.
- Establish transparent and verifiable governance for AI systems.
- Prioritize building trust through social frameworks before technical solutions.
Related Resources & Content
