Utility of Real-Time Video Teleconferencing in Conducting Family Mental Health Sessions: Two Case Reports

Abstract

Due to the worldwide mission of the military, service members often find themselves isolated from their families and other important people in their lives. Historically, this has been especially problematic during periods of illness, as the isolation has precluded the meaningful involvement of families in patient care. With the increased availability of real-time video teleconferences (VTCs), however, providers may now gain access to family members. The Inpatient Psychiatry Department at Tripler has conducted therapeutic trials of family meetings using real time VTCs. These meetings are used to facilitate social support and mend family disconnections. The high clarity images offered through this system were instrumental in developing a virtual interactive social presence among the participants. Despite the potential benefits of VTC in gaining accessing to family support, there is little mention of such clinical family meetings in the medical literature. This report describes two case examples of the application of real-time family VTC in the management of mental illness.

Telemedicine for Improved Delivery of Psychosocial Treatments for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

“…Regarding psychotherapy formats studied, of the 42 unique empirical samples, 71% (n ϭ 30) reported an individual therapy format (e.g., Bakke, Mitchell, Wonderlich, & Erickson, 2001), 17% (n ϭ 7) described group therapy (e.g., Frueh, Henderson, & Myrick, 2005), and 10% (n ϭ 4) discussed family therapy (e.g., Hill, Allman, & Ditzler, 2001). The remaining sample (2%; Shore & Manson, 2004) combined individual and group psychotherapy.…”

One Size Doesn’t Fit All: Bringing Telehealth Services to Special Populations

“…[63][64][65][66][67][68] It is clear that telehealth can be adapted to meet a wide variety of special populations with a spectrum of health needs and offer new opportunities to address their health needs.…”

Behavioral Health Care of Isolated Military Personnel by Videoconference

“…Treatment plans utilized a wide range of modalities, including family and social support, psychoeducation, information giving, collateral history development, individualized treatment plan development, marital and family therapy, and discharge planning, particularly in those service members being released from the military. 22,23 In one instance, a dependent Army spouse was admitted to the inpatient psychiatric unit after a suicide attempt she attributed to marital discord and abandonment fears. Her husband, stationed 30 minutes away, was unable to come to regular family sessions due to child-care constraints.…”