What is the effectiveness of online psychiatric care?

These are the aspects that define the effectiveness of online psychiatry in therapy.

The fields in which mental health professionals work are increasingly diverse, responding to the need to respond to the new needs and opportunities for intervention detected.

It is therefore not surprising that the popularization of the use of the Internet has had a strong impact on both psychiatry and clinical psychology. Today it is now commonplace to have therapeutic support through digital platforms such as those offering video-call services, and this is for good reasons. In this article we will look at the main aspects of the effectiveness of online psychiatry services, and why it is beneficial.and why it is beneficial.

How effective is online psychiatric consultation?

Faced with an innovative model of psychiatric intervention based on the use of new technologies, it is normal to wonder first of all about its degree of effectiveness. After all, the more differences there are with respect to the "classic" model of working face-to-face with the patient, the greater the chances of changes in the results obtained.

However, in practice, the effectiveness of online psychiatric care is the same as that of face-to-face care. the same as that provided in health centers.. It is true that there are some specific limitations, such as the impossibility of using the necessary instruments with certain patients, but in many cases, having a computer with an Internet connection is sufficient, and on these occasions the benefits obtained by the patient are comparable to those of face-to-face care.

This is not so surprising, after all. It is true that on the surface, it seems that there are many differences between a face-to-face visit and an online session; however, in essence they are usually practically the same. Nowadays, the transmission of image and sound in real time is of good quality, and therefore, from the patient's point of view, it is very easy for theFrom the patient's point of view, making video calls in this way is comparable to sitting across the table from the doctor. Neither the verbal language aspects nor the nuances of non-verbal language are lost.

What are the advantages of this mode of patient intervention?

These are the main benefits of online psychiatry from the patients' point of view.

1. Helps save time

Since patients save travel time, they can afford to include these sessions in their schedule, they can afford to fit these sessions into their schedule easily, without the need to rearrange their agenda.. This is very useful both for those who live in urban areas poorly equipped with services and for those with long working hours.

2. It is more accessible for people who cannot move around much.

Many people value very positively the fact of not having to travel to the health center, either because of health problems or economic constraints (especially if you live in poorly communicated areas). With online psychiatry services, it is sufficient to have an Internet connection with the ability to make video calls, something that is very common nowadays.which is very common nowadays.

3. Allows for quick consultations

Many times, the only thing that the person who seeks the help of a psychiatrist needs is to resolve doubts about how to carry out a treatment.. In these cases, online psychiatric care is a very good option, among other things because it helps not to have to wait for the doctor in the area to be able to attend in your center: you can opt for a greater number of specialists in psychiatry.

4. It provides discretion

For some people, it is very important to to have the utmost discretion when using health care professionals.. Since online psychiatric care does not require leaving the home, this is guaranteed with this type of service. In addition, as with face-to-face sessions, all information shared with the professional is treated as confidential.

5. Helps to avoid interrupting treatment

As with online psychiatry services, it is not necessary to always be in the same place, it is easier not to interrupt treatment due to travel or overtime. in the office; each session can be held in a different location, as long as there is a quiet, private place with an Internet connection.

Looking for psychiatric assistance through the Internet?

If you are interested in receiving professional support through an online format, we invite you to contact our team of professionals. At Avance Psychologists we have been treating patients for more than 20 years, and we have a large team of mental health experts offering psychotherapy and psychiatry services; we attend both in person at our center located in Madrid and by videocall, so that our work is accessible to everyone. To see our contact details, access this page.

Bibliographical references:

• Change, D.J. (2010). Empirical evidence on the use and effectiveness of telepsychiatry via videoconferencing: implications for forensic and correctional psychiatry. Soc Sci Med 71: pp. 1308 – 1315.
• Zack, Jason; Stricker, George (2004). Kraus, Ron, ed. Online counseling: a handbook for mental health professionals. Amsterdam: Academic.