Developing a Brief Tele-Psychotherapy Model for COVID-19 Patients and Their Family Members

Abstract

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic is negatively impacting the mental health of COVID-19 patients and family members. Given the restrictions limiting in person contact to reduce the spread of the virus, a digital approach is needed to tackle the psychological aftermath of the pandemic. We present the development of a brief remote psychotherapy program for COVID-19 patients and/or their relatives.Methods: We first reviewed the literature on psychotherapeutic interventions for COVID-19 related symptoms. Based on this evidence, we leveraged ongoing clinical experiences with COVID-19 survivors and family members to design an intervention model that could be disseminated and integrated into the workflow of the mental health system.Results: This 8-session model –inspired by constructivist and hermeneutic-phenomenological therapies– serves COVID-19 patients during hospitalization, remission and recovery. This model can also be delivered to people dealing with the COVID-19 hospitalization/discharge of a family member, or the loss of a family member due to COVID-19.Conclusion: We described a remote psychotherapeutic approach to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic psychological aftermath. To date, the approach seems feasible and highly customizable to patients’ needs. Studies are underway to test its preliminary efficacy. Once proven efficacious, this treatment model could provide a blueprint for future tele-psychology wide-scale interventions.

Post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 and adverse psychiatric outcomes: an etiology and risk systematic review protocol

“…20 Interventions that have been assessed in COVID-19 patients include: virtual and physical psychotherapeutic approaches, e.g., cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), emotional freedom techniques (EFT), and ultra-brief psychological interventions (UBPI); combined psychiatric and psychological interventions; technology and media; complementary and alternative therapies; self-care; spirituality and religion; and pharmacological. 21,22 In a randomized controlled clinical trial of 51 people with COVID-19 consisting of an experimental group receiving progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) technology for 30 minutes each day for five consecutive days and a control group receiving only usual care and treatment, subjects in the experimental group reported lower depressive symptoms, lower anxiety levels, and better sleep quality compared with those in the control group. 23 Another randomized control trial of 30 hospitalized patients with COVID-19 assigned to an experimental or control group reported an improvement in all outcome measures among intervention group subjects compared to controls.…”

“…24 Lack of cultural specificity, methodological issues, small sample sizes, lack of follow-up, unadjusted confounding factors, and brief time spans in both studies limit their generalizability. 23,24 During the COVID-19 pandemic, digital interventions to deliver health care have gained widespread acceptance. 25 Remote care coordination and provision have been adopted to help reduce the risk of disease transmission.…”

“…20 Interventions that have been assessed in COVID-19 patients include: virtual and physical psychotherapeutic approaches, e.g., cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), emotional freedom techniques (EFT), and ultra-brief psychological interventions (UBPI); combined psychiatric and psychological interventions; technology and media; complementary and alternative therapies; self-care; spirituality and religion; and pharmacological. 21, 22…”

“…In a randomized controlled clinical trial of 51 people with COVID-19 consisting of an experimental group receiving progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) technology for 30 minutes each day for five consecutive days and a control group receiving only usual care and treatment, subjects in the experimental group reported lower depressive symptoms, lower anxiety levels, and better sleep quality compared with those in the control group. 23 Another randomized control trial of 30 hospitalized patients with COVID-19 assigned to an experimental or control group reported an improvement in all outcome measures among intervention group subjects compared to controls. 24 In that study, a short four-session crisis intervention package tailored to cover COVID-19-specific guidance was delivered by clinical psychologists.…”

“…24 Lack of cultural specificity, methodological issues, small sample sizes, lack of follow-up, unadjusted confounding factors, and brief time spans in both studies limit their generalizability. 23, 24…”