Telepsychiatry: The new reality of psychiatry in the future

Abstract

Background

Do we need to work from offices in psychiatry? The clinical interface has been debated particularly in child and adolescent psychiatry with continued beliefs related to the differences in therapeutic alliance when compared to face-to-face practice. That literature clearly shows that telepsychiatry is equal in its therapeutic effects. But not much has been written about the other advantages of telepsychiatry, which may be intuitive but needs to be documented.

Methodology

The University of Toronto Telepsychiatry Program is the largest in the world with over 60 psychiatrists and 1400 sites. This is an anaectodal review of 25 years of practice using this medium outlining the advantages (ADV) and disadvantages (DADV) to this medium.

Results

ADV: convenience from home, complete access to hospital files, physician safety during sessions, able to see multiple sites and include multisystem professionals including schools, cost effective (when compared to outreach psychiatry), simplicity of connection with minimal interference. DADV: novelty to client, quality of video to pick up very subtle nonverbal information, technical support required, capital cost to set up, mental health biases to technology.

Conclusion

This technology is evolving. It is essential physicians understand the issues whether it be privacy, cost, utility and clinical application. The long-term impact will likely affect future practice and allow resource sensitive care to outlying areas with the ability to impact a country's mental health significantly. Health economic data is required for future research.

Disclosure of interest

The author has not supplied his declaration of competing interest.