Is Telepsychiatry as Effective as In Person Therapy?

Going to the psychiatrist has traditionally provoked images of lying on a couch in a neutrally decorated room and talking about your feelings. Of course, modern psychiatry covers much more than that, and the locations of doctor and patient can be much more varied, especially with today’s technology.

Board-certified psychiatrist Dr. Ifeanyi Olele of Genesis Psychiatric Solutions offers telehealth appointments to make treatment more accessible to patients. The benefits are many, and there is as of yet no apparent downside to telepsychiatry.

What telepsychiatry is

Telepsychiatry is a segment of telemedicine or telehealth. These practices let doctors provide patients with needed care via virtual visits, using technology like videoconferencing. 

A telepsychiatric appointment can include a psychiatric evaluation, patient education, therapy, and medication management.

The rise of telepsychiatry  

Many disciplines not requiring hands-on treatment turned to telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic. At the peak of this trend, 65.5% of mental health visits were conducted using telehealth.

While no longer does quite a large percentage of psychiatry visits depend on technology, virtual visits are here to stay. Providers have found that telepsychiatry makes patients more likely to seek help and continue receiving mental health treatment, because:

• Virtual visits mean no need to make transportation arrangements
• There is less stigma attached to a phone or video call than a psychiatrist’s office
• People in rural areas can more easily access mental health services
• Appointment availability and flexibility is more accessible with telehealth

If you’re facing a need for psychiatric help, but are having trouble getting or keeping an appointment, telepsychiatry might be perfect for you.

Efficiency of telepsychiatry compared to in-office visits

Many people initially weren’t sure that virtual mental health visits would be as effective as face-to-face visits with a psychiatrist. 

But a study of people with depressive symptoms revealed “no significant differences between in-person and telehealth groups in depressive symptom reduction, and significant increases in self-reported quality of life across both groups.”

Another study of patients with bipolar disorder also supported the “general effectiveness and safety of telemental health via videoconferencing.” 

Even case studies of patients with psychotic disorders showed that “the use of telehealth with individuals that suffer from serious mental illness and psychosis has been demonstrated to be feasible and acceptable, with effectiveness that is comparable to in-person clinical care.”

These results should put your mind at rest if you’re trying to figure out whether to trust telepsychiatry with your mental health. This can make it easier to access the mental health support you need.

Do you want to learn more about virtual psychiatric care? It’s easy to schedule a consultation with Dr. Olele; just call our closest location or request an appointment online. We have offices in Alexandria and Fairfax, Virginia, and Washington, DC. Dr. Olele can deliver services via telemedicine.