TELEPSYCHOLOGY: HEALING FROM HOME

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“You read minds over calls?” they asked,  amused. “No, we heal minds over calls,” unfazed, the panel of experts replied.


Telepsychology, a portmanteau of words, telecommunication and psychology, uses telecommunication technologies to provide psychological services. These technologies—such as telephones, mobiles, videoconferencing, chat, and the internet in general, focus on information transmission through various mediums, namely, writing, imagery, sounds, etc; unlocking doors of healing that transcend distance barriers. Who would have thought that a comfort session with their therapist would need nothing but a smartphone?

Although telepsychology had been practised for ages, it became widespread due to the annihilating forces of COVID-19. According to the American Psychological Association (2024), the pandemic in 2020 resulted in 97% of psychologists incorporating these services; by 2023, 77% of psychologists continued using them. While attending to these professionals, telepsychology knocked on the doors of various subfields in psychology, one of which is rehabilitation psychology.

Integrating telepsychology in these rehabilitation programs allows for services like cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), psychoeducation, psychotherapy, etc., to be provided through an online modality that erases any distance barriers that might have hampered the treatment. Telepsychology is reliable and acceptable across diverse populations, specifically geriatric, veterans, and rural. Furthermore, the cost for such remote services equals that of in-person sessions. Thus, rehabilitation programs have readily adopted telepsychology, making it an integral part. But how is telepsychology applied in such settings?

Studies state that accurate assessments over videoconferencing can be made for major depression, bipolar disorder, panic disorder, alcohol dependence, schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), cognitive functioning, suicide assessment, and forensic competence (Nelson et al., 2011)

Remote counselling and therapy are provided to individuals recovering from physical or chronic illness, and surgeries. This helps manage the stress, anxiety, depression, or other psychological phenomena experienced during rehabilitation. According to Wells and colleagues (2021), a meta-analysis of adult patients receiving telephone-based counselling after stroke and spinal cord injury reported an improved life quality post 12 months. 

Cognitive rehabilitation is another application for individuals recovering from neurological conditions or traumatic brain injuries (TBI), where they are mainly taught exercises to improve memory, attention, and other skills, using telepsychology. Myers and colleagues (2020) developed a telepsychological psychoeducation-based cognitive rehabilitation program specifically for the survivors of breast cancer that has been associated with immense satisfaction and improved self-reported cognitive functioning.

Behavioural therapies such as CBT are also provided in such settings. A study by Himle and colleagues (2006) produces evidence for the effectiveness of CBT over videoconferencing for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Additionally, telepsychology is widely used to curb substance addiction by providing remote therapies, videoconferencing with peer groups, tracking progress, and offering support through helpline numbers that eliminate any barriers, such as social stigma. 

Telepsychological services can be integrated with physical rehabilitation as a support. After attending the in-person sessions, virtual platforms can be used for tracking progress, assigning tasks, and motivating patients throughout the recovery process. Research suggests that the recovery rate increases when such an augmentative fashion forms the basis of the treatment. All these applications are widely adopted across the globe, including in India. Innovative virtual solutions are being introduced to raise mental health awareness in rural India. Online platforms like eSanjeevani facilitate remote consultations with mental health professionals, while apps like YourDOST and iCall provide support through text, voice, or video calls. Additionally, India launched, in October 2022, the Tele-MANAS helpline—a 24/7 mental health service that offers multi-language support across India. It plays a significant role in connecting callers with mental health professionals, receiving an average of 3500 calls daily. 

Despite all innovations that rule out the advantages of telepsychology, a few challenges do need interventions. The lack of reimbursement, which doesn’t provide equal compensation for remote services compared to traditional sessions; concerns about patient confidentiality, privacy, and digital safety; limited observation of non-verbal cues; and occasional technological issues. Additionally, a lack of knowledge about technology usage, in both providers and the recipients, is one of the major stumbling blocks to telepsychology in rehabilitation programs. 

Working on these challenges by raising awareness about mental health is one of the crucial aspects for telepsychology in rehab to progress faster than technology. Simplifying the virtual procedure of treatment provision, broadcasting the do-hows of using virtual platforms, and enhancing digital security for privacy concerns can be the few steps taken to reach the technological horizon of healthy minds. Because ‘Healthy minds create healthy lives.’

Websites and Help-line Numbers

Tele MANAS toll-free helpline numbers: 14416 or 1-800-891-4416;

iCall: 915298782;

eSanjeevani; YourDOST.

 

 


References

Himle, J. A., Fischer, D. J., Muroff, J. R., Van Etten, M. L., Lokers, L. M., Abelson, J. L., & Hanna, G. L. (2006). Videoconferencing-based cognitive-behavioral therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 44(12), 1821–1829. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2005.12.010

In a significant milestone achieved under the National Tele Mental Health Programme of India, the Tele-MANAS Helpline receives over 10 lakh calls since its launch in October 2022. (n.d.). https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2022057#:~:text=The%20Tele%20MANAS%20toll%2Dfree,callers%20and%20mental%20health%20professionals.

Myers, J. S., Cook-Wiens, G., Baynes, R., Jo, M., Bailey, C., Krigel, S., Klemp, J., & Asher, A. (2020). Emerging from the Haze: a multicenter, controlled pilot study of a multidimensional, Psychoeducation-Based cognitive rehabilitation intervention for breast cancer survivors delivered with telehealth conferencing. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 101(6), 948–959. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2020.01.021

Nelson, E., Bui, T. N., & Velasquez, S. E. (2011b). Telepsychology: Research and Practice Overview. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 20(1), 67–79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chc.2010.08.005

Page, C., Stamm, K., & Assefa, M. (n.d.). Telehealth and hybrid practice are here to stay. https://www.apa.org. https://www.apa.org/monitor/2024/09/telehealth-hybrid-practice

Sahay, A. (2024). Access to mental health and addiction services in rural India | Rehabs.in. Rehabs.in. https://rehabs.in/news/access-to-mental-health-and-addiction-services-in-rural-india/

Telehealth and telepsychology. (n.d.). https://www.apa.org. https://www.apa.org/practice/telehealth-telepsychology

Wells, M. J., Dukarm, P., & Mills, A. (2021b). Telehealth in rehabilitation Psychology and Neuropsychology. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinics of North America, 32(2), 405–418. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmr.2020.12.009 



About the Author

Rujula Rawool is a second-year student pursuing her Bachelor’s in Applied Psychology at NMIMS. Whether she’s lost in her vivid imagination world or writing about it, Rujula is always engrossed in creativity. She harbours profound love for art, design, computers, music, books, and especially heartfelt poetry. Driven by an unquenchable thirst for knowledge, she is constantly learning and applying what she discovers. Her passion for understanding human behavior led her to the field of psychology, where she continues to explore the intricacies of the human mind.

 

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