Telemental Health

What is Telemental health?

  • Telemental health (TMH) is the use of telecommunications to provide mental health services across a distance. It can include video conferencing, apps, telephone calls, e-mails, and remote patient monitoring and interpretation.
  • TMH has been used for decades, with the earliest use focusing on psychiatry services, typically for assessment or medication management.
  • At WRCAC, our TMH focus is on two-way, real-time interactive communication between a client and a clinician that can take the place of live, face to face therapy sessions.
    • Example: Clinician is located in state capital, while the client is at the CAC office 600 miles away. Weekly therapy is delivered via a HIPPA compliant video conferencing system.

Research Evidence for Telemental health

  • Numerous randomized, controlled studies showing tele-mental health is effective with adults
    • The Veteran’s Administration has been using TMH to deliver trauma treatments for years with great success.
  • Growing evidence base for its use with children and adolescents:
    • Videoconference assessments
      • Acceptable to patients and family
      • No differences in diagnoses or treatment recommendations, compared to face to face assessments
    • Psychotherapy
      • Multiple reviews showing effectiveness, compared to face to face therapy
      • Many diagnoses studied: ADHD, Anxiety, Depression, PTSD, etc.
      • Promising retention rates reported

Clear Standards and Guidelines exist

  • AACAP Practice Parameter for Telepsychiatry With Children and Adolescents (2008)
  • AACAP Clinical Update: Telepsychiatry With Children and Adolescents (2017)
  • APA Guidelines for the Practice of Telepsychology (2103)
  • ATA Practice Guidelines for Telemental Health with Children and Adolescents (2017)
Telemental Health References

Chakrabarti, S. (2015). Usefulness of telepsychiatry: A critical evaluation of videoconferencing-based approaches. World journal of psychiatry, 5(3), 286.

Comer et al. (2014) Rationale and Considerations for the Internet-Based Delivery of Parent–Child Interaction Therapy, Cognitive and Behavioral Practice (2014).

Comer, J. S., & Myers, K. (2016). Future directions in the use of telemental health to improve the accessibility and quality of children’s mental health services. Journal of child and adolescent psychopharmacology, 26(3), 296-300.

Comer, J. S., Furr, J. M., Miguel, E. M., et al. (2017). Remotely Delivering Real-Time Parent Training to the Home: An Initial Randomized Trial of Internet-Delivered Parent–Child Interaction Therapy (I-PCIT). Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 85(9), 909-917.

Diamond, J. M., & Bloch, R. M. (2010). Telepsychiatry assessments of child or adolescent behavior disorders: a review of evidence and issues. Telemedicine and e-Health, 16(6), 712-716.

Gloff, N. E., LeNoue, S. R., Novins, D. K., & Myers, K. (2015). Telemental health for children and adolescents. International Review of Psychiatry, 27(6), 513-524.

Gros, D. F., Morland, L. A., Greene, C. J., Acierno, R., Strachan, M., Egede, L. E., … & Frueh, B. C. (2013). Delivery of evidence-based psychotherapy via video telehealth. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 35(4), 506-521.

Hilty, D. M., Ferrer, D. C., Parish, M. B., Johnston, B., Callahan, E. J., & Yellowlees, P. M. (2013). The effectiveness of telemental health: a 2013 review. Telemedicine and e-Health, 19(6), 444-454.

Nelson, E. L., & Patton, S. (2016). Using videoconferencing to deliver individual therapy and pediatric psychology interventions with children and adolescents. Journal of child and adolescent psychopharmacology, 26(3), 212-220.

Shealy, K. M., Davidson, T. M., Jones, A. M., Lopez, C. M., & de Arellano, M. A. (2015). Delivering an Evidence-Based Mental Health Treatment to Underserved Populations Using Telemedicine: The Case of a Trauma-Affected Adolescent in a Rural Setting. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, 22(3), 331-344.

Slone, N. C., Reese, R. J., & McClellan, M. J. (2012). Telepsychology outcome research with children and adolescents: A review of the literature. Psychological Services, 9(3), 272.

Stewart, R. W., Orengo-Aguayo, R. E., Cohen, J. A., Mannarino, A. P., & de Arellano, M. A. (2017). A Pilot Study of Trauma-Focused Cognitive–Behavioral Therapy Delivered via Telehealth Technology. Child Maltreatment, 22(4), 324-333.