Benefits of Online Psychiatry

What Is Online Psychiatry?

Online psychiatry is a form of mental health care that provides diagnosis, treatment planning, and medication management through secure telehealth platforms. Instead of visiting a psychiatrist in person, patients attend appointments via video conferencing from their home or another private space. This eliminates travel time and makes psychiatric care more accessible for people in rural areas, those with busy schedules, and anyone who faces challenges getting to in-person appointments.

Key Benefits of Online Psychiatry

Online psychiatry continues to gain popularity due to its convenience and accessibility. Online psychiatric care removes barriers like travel time, limited access in rural areas, and scheduling conflicts. Virtual care also removes concerns about running into someone you know in a waiting room or parking lot, and often comes with asynchronous perks, like online access to healthcare records and secure messaging between appointments.

Some benefits of online psychiatry include:

1. Accessibility & Convenience

Online psychiatry expands access to mental health care, especially for those in remote areas or regions with limited services.¹ Whether you live in a rural community or have a packed schedule, virtual appointments make it easier to get the care you need. By skipping travel and waiting room time, and logging in from your home or office, it eliminates the geographical barriers and reduces the time constraints faced by many rural residents and busy professionals when trying to schedule appointments.

2. Increased Privacy & Comfort

Online psychiatry allows for increased privacy and comfort. You don’t have to worry about the stigma of visiting a mental health clinic or running into someone you know in a waiting room. You also don’t have to sit on uncomfortable waiting room furniture. You can sign into your appointment from your home or wherever you feel most comfortable. Additionally, telehealth platforms are HIPAA-compliant and designed to protect your safety and privacy.² While the way you access care has evolved, the commitment to confidentiality and patient protection remains the same.

3. Affordable & Cost-Effective Options

Virtual psychiatric care can be more cost-effective when you consider the costs associated with travel, childcare, and missing work. When it comes to the direct cost of telehealth services, these are typically billed at the same rates as in-person appointments. That is, providers typically charge the same amount for an appointment regardless of whether they are seeing you in person or through an online platform.

Additionally, over half of US states have telehealth parity laws.³ These are laws that require insurance companies to pay the same for telehealth as they do for in-person services so that you aren’t left footing the bill for more accessible care. Since this does vary by state and provider, you should check into both the laws in your state and the billing practices of your provider.⁴

4. Continuity of Care

An important benefit of online psychiatry is continuity of care. Access to telehealth appointments means that you don’t have to find a new provider every time you move. As long as your provider is licensed to practice in your new location, you can continue to see them. When you are traveling and relocating, you will need to check with your provider to find out whether they are licensed to practice there.

When care coordination is needed, online platforms streamline communication between providers, making it faster and more efficient, just as they make it easier for you to connect with your psychiatrist. Additionally, electronic health record (EHR) systems provide convenient access to your medical records, appointment details, and, in many cases, secure messaging, allowing you to stay connected with your provider between visits.

5. Flexible Communication Options

Online access offers more flexible communication options, both during and between appointments. Video conferencing platforms often include chat features and screen sharing, allowing you and your provider to communicate in the most convenient and effective way at any given time. Additionally, many telehealth providers offer secure asynchronous messaging and check-in options, enabling you to follow up on concerns or share updates without the need to schedule a full appointment.

Potential Drawbacks to Online Psychiatry

There are some potential drawbacks to telepsychiatry. Generally speaking, online psychiatric care is best suited for nonemergency treatment and typically provides the least intensive level of psychiatric care. It is not designed for crisis situations or urgent care needs. Additionally, online psychiatric care may not be available for all conditions or all medication options. Some conditions may require in-person evaluation, and some medications require in-person appointments to be prescribed.

There are some drawbacks to online psychiatry compared to in-person visits. Unlike in-person appointments, virtual sessions can be disrupted by connection issues or technical difficulties. Nonverbal cues and body language may also be less noticeable or missed entirely due to the limitations of current video platform technology.

Is Online Psychiatry Effective?

Research shows that online mental health treatment, including telepsychiatry, is effective in treating many mental health conditions.⁵ Studies have found that clinical effectiveness, treatment compliance, and patient satisfaction are comparable between online psychiatry and traditional in-person psychiatry. Additionally, research has found that telepsychiatry-enhanced referral and telepsychiatry collaborative care can both improve outcomes when treating complex psychiatric disorders.⁶

Who Can Benefit From Online Psychiatry?

Virtual psychiatry can benefit anyone who needs discreet, accessible, or flexible mental health care. Patients with limited mobility or transportation issues can attend psychiatric appointments using telehealth platforms without having to travel. Similarly, those who are in rural or underserved areas with limited numbers of providers can also avoid traveling long distances while still accessing quality care. Individuals can benefit from attending psychiatric appointments in the privacy of their own home or other personal space without having to worry about running into acquaintances in waiting rooms or parking lots.

What Conditions Can Online Psychiatry Help Treat?

Online psychiatry is an effective option for treating a wide range of mental health conditions, from common concerns like anxiety and depression to more specialized needs such as trauma-related disorders and addiction management. Research has also explored its use for conditions requiring psychological support alongside medical care.⁷

Conditions that can be treated using psychiatry telehealth include:

• Anxiety disorders
• Depression and mood disorders
• ADHD and other attention-related conditions
• PTSD and trauma-related disorders
• Sleep disorders
• Substance abuse disorder and addiction management (non-emergency cases)

The Future of Psychiatry: Digital Solutions for Mental Health

You may not be aware of this, but artificial intelligence (AI) is already involved in nearly every aspect of your mental health experience. Sometimes for the better and just as often for the worse. It influences everything from your search results when looking for a psychiatric provider to how insurance companies approve or deny claims. In some cases, AI can be beneficial, such as automating note-taking to give providers more time with patients. But in other instances, it can be problematic—like when AI-generated mental health articles circulate misinformation.

In addition to AI, there are other digital solutions that have the potential to transform online mental health treatment. One of these is virtual reality (VR). As virtual reality technology improves, it has the potential to create more immersive and realistic online mental health care treatment experiences. In the future, VR may even eliminate concerns about missing nonverbal cues, making online psychiatry feel as natural as an in-office visit.⁸

How to Find a Reputable Online Psychiatrist

This online therapist directory includes psychiatric care providers, making it easier to find an online psychiatrist. When searching, look for psychiatry or psychiatric services as the treatment modality. From there, you can narrow your search by selecting a provider licensed in your state, experienced in treating your specific condition—such as depression or anxiety—and accepted by your insurance.

In addition to using an online directory you can request a referral from your primary care provider (PCP) or your psychotherapist. Your current care providers will often know of or have worked with other care providers who are experienced in the same conditions as they treat and are treating you for, which may be helpful for finding a psychiatric care provider who will be a good fit for your care.

When to Seek Online Psychiatry Services

When to see a psychiatrist depends on factors such as symptom severity, the need for medication, or previous treatment history. If you are experiencing mental health symptoms that could benefit from psychiatric care, online psychiatry may be an option for accessible care for you. You can use an online therapist directory to find a provider or check out an online psychiatry platform like Brightside or LiveHealth Online. Make sure to check that the provider you will be seeing is licensed in your state and is covered by your insurance, if applicable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Online Psychiatrists Prescribe Medication?

Whether a medication can be prescribed through online psychiatry depends on the state you are in and on the medication being prescribed. There are some state—and even federal—laws about whether or not a psychiatric provider must see a patient face-to-face before providing psychiatric care at all, or for prescribing a specific medication or type of medication.⁹ The easiest way to find out what is true for your location and medication would be to consult with your psychiatric care provider.

Is Online Psychiatry Covered by Insurance?

Online psychiatry is typically covered by insurance, especially in states with telehealth parity laws.³ However, this will vary by location, provider, and plan. Not all providers are credentialed with all insurance companies, and not all insurance plans cover mental health therapy or psychiatric care. You will want to check with your care and insurance provider to find out whether online psychiatry is covered for you.⁴

How Much Does Online Psychiatry Cost?

Online psychiatry typically costs about the same as in-person care, with pricing varying based on appointment type, duration, and provider. Talkspace pricing and other subscription-based services may differ based on the plan and included features.

If you have insurance, your out-of-pocket cost will depend on your plan’s coverage, copay, or deductible, as well as whether your provider is in-network. If you’re paying out of pocket, check directly with your provider for specific rates per appointment.

What’s the Difference Between Online Psychiatry & Online Psychotherapy?

Online psychiatry and online psychotherapy are both types of tele-based mental health care, and both diagnose and treat mental health conditions. The key difference is that online psychiatry includes medication management as part of treatment, while online psychotherapy focuses on non-medication interventions, such as talk therapy and behavioral techniques, to support mental health.