Telemedicine Research Reveals Effective Therapy and Intervention Services for Reducing Mental Health Symptoms

Researchers have found increasing evidence that therapy and intervention services delivered by telehealth are effective in reducing various mental health symptoms. A study published in Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy found that online services can reduce intimate partner violence (IPV), but limited studies have tested in-person compared to telehealth-delivered interventions for men who have used IPV. The study examined the effectiveness of the Fathers for Change (F4C) intervention, which was delivered either in-person or via telehealth, and found that there were few differences in completion rates or outcomes based on the delivery method.

Key Takeaways:

• The study involved 311 parents (192 fathers and 119 linked coparent mothers) who received the F4C intervention either in-person or via telehealth.
• Parents who enrolled during the pandemic received their intake and most of their sessions via telehealth delivery, and reported significantly greater symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress prior to treatment compared to those who enrolled prior to the pandemic.
• Fathers were slightly more likely to complete treatment and attended a significantly higher percentage of their sessions when it was delivered by telehealth during the pandemic.
• Fathers reported significantly lower stress scores posttreatment when they received COVID telehealth delivery compared to prior to COVID in-person delivery of F4C.
• The study found that there were few differences in completion rates or outcomes based on in-person compared to telehealth delivery of the F4C intervention.
• The findings suggest that telehealth may be an appropriate and viable option for the delivery of IPV interventions for families.

Statistics:

• 311 parents (192 fathers and 119 linked coparent mothers) were involved in the study.
• 192 fathers and 119 linked coparent mothers received the F4C intervention via in-person delivery.
• 119 linked coparent mothers received the F4C intervention via telehealth delivery (during the pandemic).
• 119 fathers received their F4C sessions via telehealth delivery during the pandemic.
• 82% of fathers attended a significantly higher percentage of their sessions when it was delivered by telehealth during the pandemic.
• 45% of fathers completed treatment when it was delivered by telehealth during the pandemic.

Sources:

• Comparing In Person To Telehealth Delivery of a Family Violence Intervention. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 2024;31(4).
• Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy can be contacted at: Wiley, 111 River St, Hoboken 07030-5774, NJ, USA.
• The news correspondents report that additional information may be obtained from Carla Smith Stover, Yale University, School of Medicine, Child Study Center, New Haven, CT 06520, United States.
• Additional authors for this research include Margaret L. Holland, Ellen Martin, Edoardo Modanesi, Meghan Clough Fish and Rebecca Beebe.