Efficacy, patient-doctor relationship, costs and benefits of utilizing telepsychiatry for the management of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): a systematic review.

Publisher: Associação de Psiquiatria do Rio Grande do Sul Country of Publication: Brazil NLM ID: 101610695 Publication Model: Print Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 2238-0019 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 22376089 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Trends Psychiatry Psychother Subsets: MEDLINE

Original Publication: Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil : Associação de Psiquiatria do Rio Grande do Sul, [2011]-

Cost-Benefit Analysis* ; Physician-Patient Relations*; Outcome Assessment, Health Care/*statistics & numerical data ; Psychiatry/*statistics & numerical data ; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/*therapy ; Telemedicine/*statistics & numerical data; Humans ; Outcome Assessment, Health Care/economics ; Psychiatry/economics ; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/economics ; Telemedicine/economics

Introduction: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one of the most common psychiatric disorders found among victims of disaster, kidnapping, accidents, sexual assaults and war in Indonesia. However, lacking and unequal distribution of psychiatric medical personnel remains a barrier to its management. This review aims to introduce and evaluate the potential contribution of telepsychiatry to the management of PTSD based on published literature.
Methods: Original studies were obtained from PubMed, Science Direct, ProQuest, High Wire, and Elsevier Clinical Key databases.
Results: A total of 125 articles were found, of which 15 articles (12 randomized controlled trials, 2 open trials and 1 pilot study) fulfilled the inclusion criteria. A total of 991 subjects were found with a follow-up period ranging between 5 weeks and 18 months. Telepsychiatry is an innovative use of technology to aid the delivery of PTSD treatments in areas difficult to reach. The quality of care given by telepsychiatry both through video conferencing as well as web- and application-based is comparable to that of face-to-face therapy. Patient satisfaction, quality of doctor-patient relationship also remains high, with lower costs and shorter therapeutic time when compared to face-to-face therapy.
Conclusion: Various studies have shown that telepsychiatry is an effective solution for the management of PTSD. Studies have also reported that the quality of treatment through telepsychiatry is as effective as face-to-face therapy, with greater efficiency. Countries, especially those with a low patient-to-mental health professional ratio, should be encouraged to develop telepsychiatry systems to manage PTSD.

Date Created: 20200423 Date Completed: 20210201 Latest Revision: 20210201

20231215

10.1590/2237-6089-2019-0024

32321088