Review of Use of Asynchronous Technologies Incorporated in Mental Health Care

AbstractPurpose of ReviewMental health clinicians should understand how technologies augment, enhance, and provide alternate means for the delivery of mental healthcare. These technologies can be usedasynchronously, in which the patient and the clinician need not be communicating at the same time. This contrasts withsynchronous technologies, in which patient and clinician must communicate at the same time.Recent FindingsThe review is based on research literature and the authors ’ clinical and healthcare administration experiences. Asynchronous technologies can exist between a single clinician and a single patient, such as patient portal e-mail and messaging, in-app messaging, asynchronous telepsychiatry via store-and-forward video, and specialty patient-to-provider mobil e apps. Asynchronous technologies have already been used in different countries with success, and can alleviate the psychiatric workforce shortage and improve barriers to access. Multiple studies referred to in this review demonstrate good retention and acceptability of asynchronous psychotherapy in terventions by patients.SummaryAsynchronous technologies can alleviate access barriers, such as geographical, scheduling, administrative, and financial issues. It is important for clinicians to understand the efficacy, assess the ethics, and manage privacy and legal concerns that may arise from using asynchronous technologies.

Source: Current Psychiatry Reports - August 28, 2018 Category: Psychiatry Source Type: research