HomeBlogPatientThe (Virtual) Doc Will See You: Veterans and Digital Psychotherapy The (Virtual) Doc Will See You: Veterans and Digital Psychotherapy July 25, 2016Patient Telemedicine is a fast-growing trend, connecting people with their doctors through real-time online video conferences, and often saving time and money along the way. Virtual interactions with medical providers might still seem like a high-tech novelty to some, but one population has been quick to embrace the trend: military veterans. A flurry of recent studies points to the many benefits of telemedicine for post-deployment veterans who seek help for mental health problems like PTSD, insomnia, depression and anxiety. From digital psychotherapy sessions with telepsychiatrists to conferences with care managers and telephone pharmacists, veterans can get a team-based approach from the comfort of their own home or anywhere an Internet connection is possible. Such access is a boon to patients who would otherwise avoid therapy due to stigma as well as to those living in areas with a lack of trained therapists or those who have transportation or scheduling challenges, among other obstacles to treatment. One study published in the journal Telemedicine and e-Health cited the reduced cost and mortality of using home telehealth to promote the self-management of complex, chronic mental health conditions among veterans. In this retrospective study of 4,999 veterans receiving telemedicine, researchers found improvements to health-related quality of life, including 50 percent fewer hospitalizations and reduced medical costs, compared with a control group of 183,872 vets who did not receive telemedicine. A randomized clinical trial published in JAMA Psychiatry looked specifically at post-traumatic stress disorder, finding that telemedicine-based collaborative care helps to relieve PTSD symptoms and severity for military veterans living in areas without access to VA clinics. “Telemedicine gives rural veterans access to the specialized PTSD treatments that are offered by the VA,” says lead author John Fortney, PhD, a research health science specialist at the VA Puget Sound Health Care System in Seattle. “Interactive video technology allows rural veterans to receive specialized PTSD treatment in their local primary care clinic.” Veterans participating in the trial remotely had access to a complete team of healthcare professionals. Says Fortney, “The telepsychiatrist, telepsychologist, telephone care manager, and telephone pharmacist got together once a week to discuss new patients and patients’ progress.” As an adjunct therapy alongside traditional pharmacological treatments, digital psychotherapy was a key element for these veterans, who received medications for PTSD just as they would have at in-person doctor appointments. “Many VA prescriptions are mailed to the veteran’s home,” says Fortney, adding, “I would say that medication management by a telepsychiatrist and counseling by a telepsychologist augment and complement one another.” Computerized psychotherapies, or CPTs as they’re known in the field, are well on their way to becoming a first-line mental health intervention among veterans, and they are likely to catch on among the general public as well. As technology advances to keep us better connected than ever before, such mobile services will continue to grow, helping veterans and others to get the help they need—virtually anywhere. The information on this website is provided as a general information resource only, and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a qualified healthcare provider. Always seek the advice of your physician or qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. The information on this website is provided “as is”. Assurex Health makes no representations or warranties, express or implied, regarding the information on this website. Our articles are for informational purposes only and are reviewed by our Medical Information team, which includes PharmDs, MDs, and PhDs. Do not make any changes to your current medications or dosing without consulting your healthcare provider. 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Read more Healthcare Provider How Clinicians Can Help Support Their Patients Who Are Being Bullied How Clinicians Can Help Support Their Patients Who Are Being Bullied Acts of bullying can cause feelings of fear, loneliness and sadness, as well as depressi... Read more Learn more Learn more about GeneSight How to talk to your provider View our clinical studies
Patient MTHFR Mutations: Clinical Implications and Management Strategies MTHFR mutations—changes in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene—have gained increased attention in the medical community due to their potent... Read more
Patient Can an App Help Me Manage My Anxiety? Health and wellness smartphone apps have become so common that if you can name a health goal, desire or condition, you can probably find an app for it. N... Read more
Patient Black Trailblazers of Psychiatry and Mental Health: A Legacy of Healing and Advocacy As we celebrate Black History Month, we want to recognize a few individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the field of psychiatry and mental heal... Read more
Patient Mindful Moments: Tips for Anxiety If a well-meaning friend or family member has ever told you to “just breathe” when you’re feeling worked up or stressed out, you’d be forgiven if you felt l... Read more
Patient Hints To Help You Have A Better New Year The holidays have ended, and a new year has begun—a time when many embrace a fresh start by setting New Year’s resolutions. This year, why not consider s... Read more
Patient Movement as Medicine: Solutions for Anxiety Moving forward. It sounds like a nice idea, especially when you’re feeling stuck deep in the throes of an anxiety spiral. But it turns out that physically m... Read more
Patient Weight-Loss Drugs and Mental Health: What You Need to Know New medications for weight loss seem to be flying off pharmacy shelves these days. But could they be linked to mental health conditions? Researchers are ... Read more
Patient 3 million patients (and counting!) have now taken the GeneSight test! We’re thrilled to share that 3 million patients (and counting!) have now taken the GeneSight test! We're so grateful to the dedicated healthcare providers who... Read more
Patient The Model Minority Myth and Mental Health The model minority myth stereotypes one cultural group, typically Asian Americans, as “intelligent, hard-working, and diligent and therefore more academically, ... Read more
Healthcare Provider How Clinicians Can Help Support Their Patients Who Are Being Bullied How Clinicians Can Help Support Their Patients Who Are Being Bullied Acts of bullying can cause feelings of fear, loneliness and sadness, as well as depressi... Read more