Journal of Health & Medical Informatics

New Frontiers in Healthcare and Technology: Internet-and Web-Based Mental Options Emerge to Complement In-Person and Telepsychiatric Care Options

Abstract

Don Hilty*,Steven Chan,John Torous,Jesse Matmahur,Davor Mucic

Background: Web and Internet-based resources are remarkably popular with the public, patients and others as a way to access mental health information, tools for self-care, advice/consultation from a professional, and providerdirected treatments.
Objective: This paper provides a framework of a spectrum that includes person-centered health education options (conceptual endpoint), patient and caregiver-centered mental health care interventions (evidence-based literature review), and more formal provider-directed treatments (conceptual endpoint).
Methods: The evidence-based literature review was focused on treatment studies, using a minimum of three key words and the 1996-2015 period, resulting in 13,612 articles. This was reduced to 388 (title words used), to 125 (abstracts for methods, design, and outcomes) and 40 (evidence-based criteria of guidelines).
Results: Technology is frequently used, is readily accessible and satisfies persons, patients, and caregivers. Its impact on openness to engage with others and begin self-care appears very positive; its ability to help people change behaviors and engage additional clinical services appears modest, though this is inadequately evaluated. Formal treatments over the Internet, asynchronous care models, or traditional video-based synchronous services are as good as or better than in-person services, though an incomplete range of services has been evaluated. Relatively few treatment studies assess outcomes, compare in-person and e-Mental Health care, and or compare technology-based care options to one another; hybrid models of care have emerged, but have rarely been studied.
Conclusions: For persons or patients not in care, use of the internet for common, non-acute problems appears to work, though a one-time clinical evaluation may help them place options in context. Clinicians and patients should specifically plan how to use technology and exercise sound judgment, based on guidelines when available. More research is needed on the application of new technologies to clinical care, with randomized trials and health services studies for effectiveness suggested.