Psychotherapy in times of the COVID-19 pandemic in Argentina: Factors associated with the use of telepsychotherapy during social isolation

ABSTRACT

In Argentina, social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on the practice of psychotherapy. The goal was to describe factors associated with the use of telepsychotherapy during social isolation. An online survey was conducted among 978 psychologists and psychiatrists from different provinces and the city of Buenos Aires. 77.7% of the participants started using online psychotherapy for the first time at the beginning of social isolation;62.6% of the participants treated half or more of their patients online. Significant relationships were detected between online psychotherapy and various factors that characterize psychotherapeutic practice, but these are weak effects. Participants with a higher percentage of patients in telepsychotherapy reported fewer treatment interruptions and similar or higher levels of income compared to those prior to social isolation. Drastic changes in psychotherapeutic practice during social isolation need to be studied in depth.