An Overview Of Telepsychiatry For Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

By Annabelle Holman


In the olden days, treatment for post traumatic stress disorder was quite difficult because of the distance of the therapist and the patient. However, because of technology, it is now possible for patients to receive treatment from video conferencing. This type of treatment is called telepsychiatry for post-traumatic stress disorder and has proven to be quite effective.

Now just to give people an idea of how this method of treatment came into place, it was first used in Nebraska Psychiatric Institute some time in the fifties. After some time, the University of Nebraska did some research on this method and got positive results. Eventually, the Dartmouth Medical School was able to conclude that this method was really good when it comes to building rapport with patients.

Now in the year 1994, around sixteen programs were using it. In the year 1997, it became even more popular as around twenty five programs were already using it. Nowadays, it is now a common way of treatment just in case one cannot go to in person treatments as this method is also pretty efficient.

Although it has been accepted already, it is still slowly becoming more and more popular. In fact, there are many people who have been diagnosed with thi condition who have said that they were able to reduce their symptoms because of this treatment. Even though nothing beats face to face treatment, this can still be a good alternative just in case the former is not available.

Now there are even some patients who are diagnosed with this disorder who would say that this type of treatment is really good. They said that the doctors can be able to contact them even though they are miles away. With this, the doctor is able to give them psychiatric services even if they are not presently at the clinic of the doctor.

Another thing to take note of is that people who are diagnosed with this condition are very fearful of travelling and going to crowded places. This is where video conferencing can be very convenient and helpful to the patients. Clearly, it will not be helpful to the condition of patients suffering from this condition f they still go to the doctor for an in person treatment given their fear of travel and crowded places as they will just get more anxious.

Now another great thing about this type of treatment is that it is actually cheaper to do than in house treatments. Now one thing about video conferences is that there are fewer cancellations that in person treatments because of the convenience of the method. As compared to in person treatments wherein a cancelled session would result in an opportunity cost. In fact, one cost analysis showed that 106,000 dollars will be spent for in person treatment for a hundred patients while it will only cost 94,000 dollars for the video conference.

This is one of the biggest breakthroughs in the world of medicine because of both its efficiency and its convenience. In fact, it is beneficial to both the therapist and the patient. The therapist may now be able to check in his patients that are far away, and the patients do not need to get out of their houses to receive treatment anymore.




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