Digital privacy in mental healthcare: current issues and recommendations for technology use

Abstract

Mental healthcare providers increasingly use technology for psychotherapy services. This progress enables professionals to communicate, store information, and rely on digital software and hardware. Emails, text messaging, telepsychology/ telemental health therapy, electronic medical records, cloudbased storage, apps/applications, and assessments are now available within the provision of services. Of those mentioned, some are directly utilized for psychotherapy while others indirectly aid providers. Whereas professionals previously wrote notes locally, technology has empowered providers to work more efficiently with third-party services and solutions. However, the implementation of these advancements in mental healthcare involves consequences to digital privacy and might increase clients' risk of unintended breaches of confidentiality. This manuscript reviews common technologies, considers the vulnerabilities therein, and proposes suggestions to strengthen privacy.

Mental Illness in the Post-pandemic World: Digital Psychiatry and the Future

“…Despite its advantages, telepsychiatry is not a panacea, and there are potential harms that must be considered. Virtual care is inherently associated with a degree of risk where data breaches and compromise to patient confidentiality and privacy are concerned (Lustgarten et al, 2020). The use of virtual platforms with built-in data encryption, adware, and malware protection, as well as firewalls, has been endorsed as a means to mitigate risks of data breaches (Barnett, 2019).…”

The Ethical Use of Telepsychiatry in the Covid-19 Pandemic

“…In particular, risks to data security, privacy, and confidentiality may increase when using freely available software, which may be less secure ( 9 ). Lustgarten and colleagues ( 10 ) offer some important recommendations regarding good and safe use of technologies. Crucially, clinician should ensure that telepsychotherapy is appropriate for the patient in question.…”

Videoconferencing-Based Telemental Health: Important Questions for the COVID-19 Era From Clinical and Patient-Centered Perspectives

“…While the HIPAA allows for the sharing of patient information for care coordination, the sharing of psychiatric notes falls into ethical and legal grey areas. Care providers should openly discuss the unique limitations of privacy when using an EHR, even if these limitations are described within written informed consent forms [ 53 ]. With the lightning-speed implementation of telemental health services, care providers must take the time to research and share the benefits and risks of V-TMH with their patients, especially those that differ in face-to-face treatments.…”