Connecting the disconnected: Preliminary results and lessons learned from a telepsychology initiative with special management inmates.

Abstract

The use of telepsychology, such as videoconferencing (VC) systems, has been rapidly increasing as a tool for the provision of mental health services to underserved clients in difficult to access settings. Inmates detained in restrictive housing appear to be at an increased risk of experiencing emotional and behavioral disturbances compared to their general population counterparts, yet they are less likely to receive appropriate treatment due to security constraints. The primary purpose of this article is to describe the process of implementing a novel telepsychology intervention specifically designed to offer group therapy to high-security, administratively segregated inmates. In addition, preliminary results on treatment and therapeutic process outcomes in a sample of 49 participants are reported. Although some evidence indicated that telepsychology was less preferred than in-person sessions, group differences on measures of psychological functioning and criminal thinking were not found across 3 conditions (telepsychology, in-person, and a no-treatment control). Furthermore, a number of limitations associated with program implementation and study design suggest that results be interpreted with caution and should not be used to discount the use of telepsychology as a viable treatment delivery option. Recommendations for future development and evaluation of telepsychological programs are discussed within the context of correctional settings and beyond. (PsycINFO Database Record

Evidence for telehealth group-based treatment: A systematic review

“…30,33 Studies that directly compared group process outcomes showed some mild differences between groups, with small decreases in therapeutic alliance and group cohesion in the VTC group vs face-to-face delivery. 9,12,22 These differences in group process indicators, however, did not appear to result in different treatment outcomes between the VTC and faceto-face groups. In two studies, participants indicated a preference for VTC over face-to-face interaction because it was less distracting and threatening.…”

“…9,12,18 Five studies used nonrandomised group selection for VTC vs a face-to-face group, with participant location or participant preference determining group selection. [22][23][24][25]41 Twenty-three studies were pilot, feasibility or qualitative studies with no control group. [23][24][25][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50] Three studies used a wait-list or notreatment control group.…”

“…11,[19][20][21][25][26][27][28][29]34,[38][39][40]42,43,45,46,[48][49][50][51] Nineteen used either point-to-point or multipoint design with group participants gathering in one or more clinic locations where the VTC connection was provided by institutional teleconferencing equipment. 9,12,14,15,17,18,[22][23][24][30][31][32][33][35][36][37]41,44,47 For studies with participants at several different clinical sites, the number of participants at each location varied -that is, some remote sites would include faceto-face group participant interaction, whereas other sites would only have one participant each. In one study, the therapists delivered smoking cessation content to an inperson group, with simultaneous broadcast via VTC connections to other remote locations.…”

Vocational Psychology and the Future: The Role of Telepsychology in Shaping Research

“…Telepsychology could provide career interventions for criminal justice populations from a distance, meeting the needs of inmates, and combatting some of these barriers. For example, Batastini and Morgan (2016) studied telepsychology, through video, by providing cognitive behavioral therapy to segregated inmate populations in a group therapy format. The inmates were in separate rooms but with videos in each room that allowed them to see each other.…”

“…The sessions occurred for 6 weeks for 1 hr each week. Batastini and Morgan (2016) found that inmates who received in-person therapy reported greater working alliance, but, given that prison systems are generally limited in providing such services, research on how to increase working alliance with telepsychology for inmates could be useful for career interventions. Use of mobile technology may be especially helpful for women offenders whose career needs are still in need of more study.…”