A systematic review of the literature on telepsychiatry for bipolar disorder

Abstract

Objective Bipolar (BP) disorder is a highly morbid disorder that is often misdiagnosed or undiagnosed and affects a large number of adults and children. Due to the coronavirus disease 2019 public health emergency stay at home orders, most outpatient mental health care was provided via telepsychiatry, and the many benefits of virtual care ensure that this will continue as an ongoing practice. The main aim of this review was to investigate what is currently known about the use of telepsychiatry services in the diagnosis and treatment of BP disorder across the lifespan. Method A systematic literature review assessing the use of telepsychiatry in BP disorder was conducted in PubMed, PsychINFO, and Medline. Results Six articles were included in the final review. All included articles assessed populations aged 17 years or older. The literature indicates that BP disorder was addressed in telepsychiatry services at a similar rate as in‐person services, reliable diagnoses can be made using remote interviews, satisfaction rates are comparable to in‐person services, telepsychiatry services are able to reach and impact patients with BP disorder, are sustainable, and patient outcomes can improve using a telepsychiatry intervention. Conclusions Given the morbidity of BP disorder, the research addressing the telepsychiatry diagnosis and treatment of BP disorder is sparse, with only emerging evidence of its reliability, effectiveness, and acceptance. There is no research assessing the safety and efficacy of telepsychiatry in pediatric populations with BP disorder. Given the morbidity associated with BP disorder at any age, further research is needed to determine how to safely and effectively incorporate telepsychiatry into clinical care for BP adult and pediatric patients.

A 2-year longitudinal evaluation of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on individuals with pre-existing anxiety disorders

“…Many respondents found interaction with their mental health team reassuring and supportive. Telephone consultation as a viable alternative to face-to-face interaction was highlighted by some of the participants, with some stating that ‘tele-psychiatry’ could have an ongoing role, with recent research noting patient satisfaction for this form of clinical consultation in individuals with bipolar disorder and anxiety disorders (Farrell et al, 2022; Milosevic et al, 2022; Komariah et al, 2022). However, concerns such as the development of therapeutic rapport and the attainment of full informed consent to maintain patients’ privacy have also been expressed (Romo 2022).…”

Uma abordagem geral do transtorno bipolar

“…Isso pode ocorrer porque os médicos frequentemente diagnosticam e tratam a depressão sem reconhecer a mania. De fato, 25% dos adultos com transtorno da TB recebem inicialmente um diagnóstico de depressão unipolar, e estima-se que até 30% dos pacientes que apresentam depressão são melhor diagnosticados como tendo TB (FARRELL A, et al, 2022).…”

Enabling Expedited Disposition of Emergencies Using Telepsychiatry in Israel: Protocol for a Hybrid Implementation Study

“…In this paper, we focus exclusively on 2-way communication using a real-time video link. There is evidence for the feasibility and effectiveness of telepsychiatry in certain settings, including for children and adolescents [ 3 ], adults and older adults [ 4 ], postpartum depression [ 5 ], developmental disorders like autism [ 6 ], and bipolar disorder [ 7 ]. Telepsychiatry can be used in different cultures [ 8 ] and health settings [ 9 ].…”