ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a widespread adoption of videoconferencing as a communication medium in mental health service delivery. This review considers the empirical literature to date on using videoconferencing to deliver psychological therapy to adults presenting with mental health problems. METHOD: Papers were identified via search of relevant databases. Quantitative and qualitative data were extracted and synthesized on uptake, feasibility, outcomes, and participant and therapist experiences. RESULTS: Videoconferencing has an established evidence base in the delivery of cognitive behavioural therapies for post-traumatic stress disorder and depression, with prolonged exposure, cognitive processing therapy, and behavioural activation non-inferior to in-person delivery. There are large trials reporting efficacy for health anxiety and bulimia nervosa compared with treatment-as-usual. Initial studies show applicability of cognitive behavioural therapies for other anxiety and eating disorders and obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders, but there has yet to be study of use in severe and complex mental health problems. Therapists may find it more difficult to judge non-verbal behaviour, and there may be initial discomfort while adapting to videoconferencing, but client ratings of the therapeutic alliance are similar to in-person therapy, and videoconferencing may have advantages such as being less confronting. There may be useful opportunities for videoconferencing in embedding therapy delivery within the client's own environment. CONCLUSIONS: Videoconferencing is an accessible and effective modality for therapy delivery. Future research needs to extend beyond testing whether videoconferencing can replicate in-person therapy delivery to consider unique therapeutic affordances of the videoconferencing modality. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Videoconferencing is an efficacious means of delivering behavioural and cognitive therapies to adults with mental health problems. Trial evidence has established it is no less efficacious than in-person therapy for prolonged exposure, cognitive processing therapy, and behavioural activation. While therapists report nonverbal feedback being harder to judge, and clients can take time to adapt to videoconferencing, clients rate the therapeutic alliance and satisfaction similarly to therapy in-person. Videoconferencing provides opportunities to integrate therapeutic exercises within the person's day-to-day environment.
Subject(s)
Behavior Therapy/standards , Mental Disorders/therapy , Patient Satisfaction , Process Assessment, Health Care , Telemedicine/standards , Therapeutic Alliance , Videoconferencing/standards , COVID-19/prevention & control , HumansSubject(s)
Betacoronavirus , Coronavirus Infections/epidemiology , Pain Management/standards , Pain/epidemiology , Pneumonia, Viral/epidemiology , Telemedicine/standards , Behavior Therapy/standards , Behavior Therapy/trends , COVID-19 , Coronavirus Infections/diagnosis , Humans , Pain/diagnosis , Pain Management/trends , Pandemics , Physical Therapy Modalities/standards , Physical Therapy Modalities/trends , Pneumonia, Viral/diagnosis , SARS-CoV-2 , Telemedicine/trendsSubject(s)
Anxiety/therapy , Behavior Therapy/standards , Coronavirus Infections/psychology , Depression/therapy , Exercise Therapy/standards , Medical Staff/psychology , Pneumonia, Viral/psychology , Practice Guidelines as Topic , Adult , Betacoronavirus , COVID-19 , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Pandemics , SARS-CoV-2ABSTRACT
The outbreak of the novel SARS CoV-2-virus (COVID-19) is pushing national and international healthcare systems to their limits. The aspect of mental health issues, which has been neglected (so far) in times of social isolation and governmental restrictions, now demands innovative and situation-based approaches to support psychological burdened people. The developed e-mental health intervention 'CoPE It' offers manualized, evidence-based psychotherapeutic/psychological support to overcome psychological distress in times of COVID-19. E-mental health approaches offer great possibilities to support burdened people during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic effectively.
Subject(s)
Adaptation, Psychological , Behavior Therapy/standards , Coronavirus Infections/psychology , Mental Disorders/therapy , Pneumonia, Viral/psychology , Practice Guidelines as Topic , Social Isolation/psychology , Telemedicine/standards , Betacoronavirus , COVID-19 , Humans , Mental Disorders/epidemiology , Pandemics , SARS-CoV-2ABSTRACT
The SARS CoV-2-virus (COVID-19) pandemic is pushing national and international structures to their limits. Little is known about treatment options to combat the novel virus, but the same applies to the effects of COVID-19 on people's mental health. In Germany, as in many other countries, governmental actions impact peoples' individual freedom. These highly necessary actions to slow down the spread of the virus, however, are a burden to the community. We established a structured concept to support psychological burdened people in Essen, which is located in the Ruhr area, a metropolitan region with more than 5.1 million inhabitants in the heart of the federal state North Rhine Westphalia. The psychological burden following the spread of the virus and individual restrictions should not be neglected.