Psychological support and psychotherapy via digital devices in Covid-19 emergency time: Some critical issues

Abstract

<jats:p> The Covid-19 pandemic and the resulting fear, quarantine and lockdown measures implemented in Italy and other countries to contain the risk of contagion have seriously impacted the mental health of a large number of people. The need to offer psychological and psychotherapeutic support to these people, while respecting the government’s pressing calls to “stay home”, have led many psychologists and psychotherapists, both in the public and private sectors, to provide their professional services via teleconference, telephone, smartphone, etc. The aim of this work is to highlight some critical issues related to the sudden switch from the traditional method of providing psychological services to the digital one in Italy. </jats:p>

Capability impacts of the Covid-19 lockdown in association with mental well-being, social connections and existing vulnerabilities: an Austrian survey study

“…Digital e-health treatment options provide potential solution to assure the continuity of treatment and at the same time protect health of the service-users and professionals [59,60].…”

“…For future strategic healthcare planning during next waves of the pandemic, policy makers and health and social care providers need to be aware of the exceptional vulnerability of this group and efforts have to be made for continuous mental health service provision. Digital e-health treatment options provide potential solution to assure the continuity of treatment and at the same time protect health of the service-users and professionals [59, 60].…”

Remote working in mental health services: a rapid umbrella review of pre-COVID-19 literature

“…7Despite potential benefits and efficiencies, and a substantial body of relevant research, implementation of remote working remained very limited in most countries prior to the pandemic, and substantial implementation barriers have been observed (8), along with potential for inequalities to be exacerbated. Digital exclusion is an important concern regarding service users without the necessary skills, equipment and monetary resources to access online treatment, with this most marked in more marginalised groups such as people from BAME and low-SES backgrounds, and loss of privacy and deterioration in therapeutic relationships are further risks (1,(9)(10)(11). Staff participation is also impeded by technological and environmental difficulties, and they express reservations regarding quality of assessments, deterioration of therapeutic relationships, and limitations in the extent to which physical as well as mental health is attended to (8,10,11).…”

Bedeutung der COVID-19-Pandemie für die öffentliche Gesundheit und gruppenpsychologische Aspekte – Teil 2 einer (vorläufigen) Übersicht

“…B. Dennis et al 2020). So ist es nicht erstaunlich, dass in unserem Gesundheitssystem infolge der Pandemie und des Lockdowns viele psychotherapeutische Kontakte im individuellen Bereich auf Videosprechstunden und telemedizinische Formate verlagert wurden, wenngleich auch mit einer gewissen Ambivalenz und Selbstzweifeln aufseiten der Psychotherapeut*innen (Aafies-van Doorn et al 2020) sowie kritischen Stimmen zu den möglichen Einschränkungen aus technischer, aber auch aus sozialer, psychotherapeutischer und ethischer Perspektive (Tullio et al 2020).…”