Tele-mental Health Transitions for Pennsylvania Coordinated Specialty Care Programs for Early Psychosis During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

This study examined provider and client perspectives of tele-mental health (TMH) in early psychosis care during the COVID-19 pandemic. To achieve this goal, thirty-three mental health providers and 31 clients from Pennsylvania Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC) programs completed web-based surveys assessing TMH usage, experiences, and perceptions between May and September 2020. Three additional TMH-related questions were asked two years later of PA CSC Program Directors between Feb and March 2022. Descriptive statistics characterized responses. Open-ended items were coded and grouped into themes for qualitative synthesis. As early as mid-2020, participants reported extensive use of TMH technologies, including telephone and video visits. Although most providers and clients preferred in-person care to TMH, most clients still found TMH to be comparable to or better than in-person care; 94% of clients indicated interest in future TMH services. Providers also noted more successes than challenges with TMH. Nine themes emerged regarding provider-perceived client characteristics that could benefit from TMH and were grouped into two categories: client-level (access to technology, comfort with technology, transportation, young age, symptom severity, functioning level, motivation for treatment adherence) and interpersonal-level (external support systems and engagement with program prior to the pandemic) characteristics. Two years later, program directors reported continued perceived advantages of TMH in CSCs, although some barriers persisted. Despite the unexpected shift to TMH in early psychosis programs during the COVID-19 pandemic, findings indicated a relatively positive transition to TMH and perceived promise of TMH as a sustained part of routine care. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11126-023-10015-0.

COVID-19 Impacts on Pennsylvania Coordinated Specialty Care for Early Psychosis Participants

“…Significant worries were defined as worries rated at a moderate amount or greater. Participants also reported on pandemic-related impacts and severity of such impacts, where significant impacts were those reported as moderate [3] or greater. Participants also reported coping strategies implemented and frequency of use.…”

“…2 In March 2020, the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic began. Despite continuity of care through a rapid transition to tele-mental health (TMH), 3,4 there has been escalating international concern about mental health (MH) effects of the prolonged pandemic on the general population, 5 with special interest in individuals experiencing FEP. 6 Individuals with FEP can have worsening psychotic experiences during times of stress sensitivity and amplified threat anticipation, 7 both concerns during the pandemic.…”