Support from the Internet for Individuals with Mental Disorders: Advantages and Disadvantages of e-Mental Health Service Delivery

Abstract

Mental disorders are common in almost all industrialized countries and many emerging economies. While several trials have shown that effective treatments exist for mental disorders, such as pharmacotherapy, psychological interventions, and self-help programs, the treatment gap in mental health care remains pervasive. Unrestricted access to adequate medical care for people with mental disorders will be one of the pressing public mental health tasks in the near future. In addition, scarcity of financial resources across the public mental health sector is a powerful argument for investigating innovative alternatives of delivering mental health care. Thus, one challenge that arises in modern mental health care is the development of innovative treatment concepts. One possibility for improving mental health care services is to deliver them via the Internet. Online-based mental health services have the potential to address the unmet need for mental health care.

Access to Psychotherapy in the Era of Web 2.0 – New Media, Old Inequalities? / Zugang zur Psychotherapie in der Ära des Web 2.0 – Neue Medien, Alte Ungleichheiten?

“…Sucala et al, 2012), it should be noted that reliable results exist only to a small extent and for few subgroups (Bee et al, 2008;Moock, 2014). Based on the research evidence from studies that, in particular, included young and above-average educated subjects who are mostly the most frequent Internet users (see e.g.…”

“…Furthermore, 'outsourcing' therapeutic interactions into the private sphere of patients could interfere with therapy outcomes, since one's own home does not provide equivalent protection like a professional environment. Other important limitations for better accessibility of psychotherapy are that Internet therapies are mainly suitable for people with mild to moderate mental disorders (Moock, 2014) and patients with one specific diagnosis (Lal & Adair, 2014). This reductionism is hardly consistent with the situation in primary care.…”

“…However, patients seeking help usually wait for weeks or months for an initial consultation with a registered psychotherapist, particularly in rural areas (see Barmer GEK Health Report, 2014). Given the scarcity of financial resources for public health in European countries, testing of innovative approaches to the treatment of mental disorders may help close the gap between supply and demand (Moock, 2014). However, in Germany, Internet therapies are currently not viable for patients in primary care due to the so-called prohibition of remote treatment (so-called 'Fernbehandlungsverbot'; see Bauer & Kordy, 2008).…”

“…However, in Germany, Internet therapies are currently not viable for patients in primary care due to the so-called prohibition of remote treatment (so-called 'Fernbehandlungsverbot'; see Bauer & Kordy, 2008). In contrast, in the Netherlands, the UK, Scandinavian countries, Australia and New Zealand both guided and unguided self-help e-mental health services have already been integrated into primary care; the implementation of e-mental health services in Germany and France is also under discussion (Moock, 2014). Thus, there are only field studies on publicly available online counselling service for the German-speaking countries (Eichenberg & Ott, 2012).…”

Enhancing flourishing mental health in the general population as a new strategy for the prevention of anxiety and depressive disorders

“…Brown, 2010;Lyubomirsky, 2007;Walburg, 2010), studies about the efficacy of such comprehensive books have been scarce. Besides, not all people prefer treatment over the internet, might feel skeptical about it, or have concerns regarding confidentiality or quality of care (Moock, 2014).…”