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TELEPSICHOLOGYY AND OTHER CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGIES IN COVID-19 PANDEMIC: BRIDGING THE DISTANCE IN MENTAL HEALTH ASSISTANCE

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 July 2023

I. S. Lancia ,
G. M. Festa  and
M. Mancini
I. S. Lancia*
Affiliation:
Interdisciplinary Institute of Higher Clinical Education (IAFeC)
G. M. Festa
Affiliation:
Interdisciplinary Institute of Higher Clinical Education (IAFeC) Pontifical Faculty of Educational Sciences «AUXILIUM», Rome, Italy
M. Mancini
Affiliation:
Interdisciplinary Institute of Higher Clinical Education (IAFeC)
*
*Corresponding author.

Abstract

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Introduction

Background: At the end of 2019, a novel coronavirus (COVID-19) was identified in China. The high potential of human-to-human transmission led to subsequent COVID-19 global pandemic. Public health strategies, including reduced social contact and lockdown have been adopted in many countries. Nonetheless, social distancing and isolation could also represent risk factors for mental disorders, resulting in loneliness, reduced social support and under-detection of mental health needs. Along with this, social distancing determines a relevant obstacle for direct access to psychiatric care services. The pandemic generates the urgent need for integrating technology into innovative models of mental healthcare.

Objectives

In this paper, we discuss the potential role of Telepsichologyy (TP) and other cutting-edge technologies in the management of mental health assistance.

Methods

We narratively review the literature to examine the advantages and risks related to the extensive application of these new therapeutic settings, along with the possible limitations and ethical concerns.

Results

Telemental health services may be particularly flexible and appropriate for the support of patients, family members and healthcare providers during this COVID-19 pandemic. The integration of TP with other technological innovations (eg, mobile apps, virtual reality, big data and artificial intelligence (AI)) opens up interesting future perspectives for the improvement of mental health assistance.

Conclusions

Telepsichologyy is a promising and growing way to deliver mental health services; but it is still underused. The COVID-19 pandemic may serve as an opportunity to introduce and promote, among numerous mental health professionals, the knowledge of the possibilities offered by the digital era.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared

Type
Abstract
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 66 , Special Issue S1: Abstracts of the 31st European Congress of Psychiatry , March 2023 , pp. S857
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the European Psychiatric Association
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