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The Effectiveness of Telepsychiatry

An article in the Canadian Psychiatric Association Bulletin by Donald Hilty,MD and colleagues at the University of California, Davis assessed the effectiveness of telepsychiatry for clinicians, clinical educators and clinical researchers. In a comprehensive review of the telepsychiatry literature from 1965 to June 2003, a number of factors were identified as potential indicators for evaluating effectivess of the technology. These include: access to care, quality of care, reliability, comparison with in-person care, patient and provider satisfaction, cost, education and empowerment.

Dr Hilty points out that although additional research is needed, telepsychiatry appears effective, based on the preliminary data on access to care, quality of care (that is, outcomes, diagnosis and ability for users to communicate), satisfaction and education. It also empowers patients, providers and communities. While it is too early to determine if telepsychiatry is cost-effective, the delination of all of the elements that make this technology work is an important beginning for future clinicians and researchers.