Advancing Treatment of Depression and Other Mood Disorders Through Innovative Models of Telepsychiatry

Abstract

Rapid changes in health care technology are advancing mental health care. Telepsychiatry, in the form of live interactive videoconferencing, has demonstrated its ability to improve access to high-quality mental health care, specifically in the treatment of patients with depression and mood disorders. This article reviews the advances in telepsychiatry in the treatment of depression and mood disorders. Telepsychiatry is significantly reconfiguring the structures and models of psychiatric care delivery. Such changes include direct-to-home services, blending telepsychiatry with other technologies, and using a team-based care approach. This article also examines the evolving and innovative models of care, synthesizes literature and lessons learned about telehealth, and considers current and future pragmatic implications for the treatment of depression and mood disorders in various clinical settings. Telepsychiatry has an important and expanding role in addressing the individual and societal psychiatric burdens of depression and mood disorders. (Copyright © by the American Psychiatric Association.)