The transition to online psychotherapy during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic: Variables associated with satisfaction of patients. The case of the Santagostino Medical Center

Journal title QUADERNI DI PSICOTERAPIA COGNITIVA
Author/s Laura Staccini, Daniele Cavadini, Rosa Gravagnuolo, Elena Olivetti, Camilla Bongiovanni, Raffaella Calati, Fabio Madeddu, Laura Mandelli, Stefano Porcelli
Publishing Year 2023 Issue 2023/53
Language Italian Pages 17 P. 91-107 File size 0 KB
DOI 10.3280/qpc53-2023oa16934
DOI is like a bar code for intellectual property: to have more infomation click here

FrancoAngeli is member of Publishers International Linking Association, Inc (PILA), a not-for-profit association which run the CrossRef service enabling links to and from online scholarly content.

Due to the Coronavirus pandemic (Covid-19), the traditional psychotherapeutic setting had evolved to integrate video-conference psychotherapy. Since then, video-conferencetherapy (VT) has had a progressive diffusion and has become an alternative or integrable psychotherapy modality. The present study aimed to investigate patients’ satisfaction with the transition to VT, and the impact of prior and current attitudes/experiences with video-conference psychotherapy. An online survey was e-mailed to all patients treated at the Psychology, Psychotherapy and Psychiatry service of the Santagostino Medical Center between March and June 2020. The analysis of the distribution of responses in the sample (n = 111) and a multiple regression model were conducted to evaluate the effect of each variable on the degree of satisfaction.Problems related to the use of video-communication software and suitable location for VT predicted dissatisfaction with VT. A sense of increased spontaneity towards the therapist and the perceived impact on the way to communicate during VT experiences correlated positively and negatively respectively with satisfaction with VT. For a better VT experience, several setting-related variables should be considered.

Keywords: ; online psychotherapy; transition; satisfaction

  1. Adler G., Pritchett L.R., Kauth M.R. & Nadorff D. (2014). A pilot project to improve access to telepsychotherapy at rural clinics. Telemedicine and e-Health, 20(1): 83-85. DOI: 10.1089/tmj.2013.0085
  2. Abdelkarim A. & Abdelfattah I. (2022). Patients’ Satisfaction with the quality of online versus in-person DBT skills group therapy: A pilot study. European Psychiatry, 65(S1): S708-S708. DOI: 10.1192/j.eurpsy.2022.1824
  3. Apolinário-Hagen J., Vehreschild V. & Alkoudmani R.M. (2017). Current views and perspectives on E-mental health: an exploratory survey study for understanding public attitudes toward internet-based psychotherapy in Germany. JMIR Mental Health, 4(1): e8. DOI: 10.2196/mental.6375
  4. Backhaus A., Agha Z., Maglione M.L., Repp A., Ross B., Zuest D., Rice-Thorp N.M., Lohr J. & Thorp S.R. (2012). Videoconferencing psychotherapy: A systematic review. Psychological Services, 9(2): 111-131. DOI: 10.1037/a0027924
  5. Berryhill M.B., Culmer N., Williams N., Halli-Tierney A., Betancourt A., Roberts H. & King M. (2019). Videoconferencing Psychotherapy and Depression: A Systematic Review. Telemedicine and e-Health, 25(6): 435-446. DOI: 10.1089/tmj.2018.0058
  6. Bisseling E., Cillessen L., Spinhoven P., Schellekens M., Compen F., Van der Lee M. & Speckens A. (2019). Development of the therapeutic alliance and its association with internet-based mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for distressed cancer patients: Secondary analysis of a multicenter randomized controlled trial. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 21(10): e14065. DOI: 10.2196/14065
  7. Brooks E., Manson S.M., Bair B., Dailey N. & Shore J.H. (2012). The diffusion of telehealth in rural American Indian communities: a retrospective survey of key stakeholders. Telemedicine and e-Health, 18(1): 60-66. DOI: 10.1089/tmj.2011.0076
  8. Cataldo F., Chang S., Mendoza A. & Buchanan G. (2021). A Perspective on Client-Psychologist Relationships in Videoconferencing Psychotherapy: Literature Review. JMIR Mental Health, 8(2): e19004. DOI: 10.2196/19004
  9. Chen P.V., Helm A., Caloudas S.G., Ecker A., Day G., Hogan J. & Lindsay J. (2022). Evidence of phone vs video-conferencing for mental health treatments: A review of the literature. Current Psychiatry Reports, 24(10): 529-539. DOI: 10.1007/s11920-022-01359-8
  10. Cipolletta S. & Mocellin D. (2017). Online counseling: An exploratory survey of Italian psychologists’ attitudes towards new ways of interaction. Psychotherapy Research, 28: 1-16. DOI: 10.1080/10503307.2016.1259533
  11. Deen T.L., Fortney J.C. & Schroeder G. (2013). Patient acceptance of and initiation and engagement in telepsychotherapy in primary care. Psychiatric services, 64(4): 380-384. DOI: 10.1176/appi.ps.201200198
  12. Döring N., Moor K.D., Fiedler M., Schoenenberg K. & Raake A. (2022). Videoconference Fatigue: A Conceptual Analysis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19: 2061. DOI: 10.3390/ ijerph19042061
  13. Etzelmueller A., Radkovsky A., Hannig W., Berking M. & Ebert D.D. (2018). Patient’s experience with blended video-and internet based cognitive behavioural therapy service in routine care. Internet interventions, 12: 165-175. DOI: 10.1016/j.invent.2018.01.003
  14. Field M. (1996). Telemental health – A guide to assessing telecommunications to health care. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.
  15. Grassi E. & Marsigli N. (2020). Le nuove tecnologie e la psicoterapia: approfondimento del trattamento del disturbo d’ansia sociale. Quaderni di Psicoterapia Cognitiva, 47: 101-119. DOI: 10.3280/qpc47-2020oa11208
  16. Interian A., King A.R., St. Hill L.M., Robinson C.H. & Damschroder L.J. (2018). Evaluating the implementation of home-based videoconferencing for providing mental health services. Psychiatric Services, 69(1): 69-75. DOI: 10.1176/appi.ps.201700004
  17. Jenkins-Guarnieri M.A., Pruitt L.D., Luxton D.D. & Johnson K. (2015). Patient perceptions of telemental health: Systematic review of direct comparisons to in-person psychotherapeutic treatments. Telemedicine and e-Health, 21(8): 652-660. DOI: 10.1089/tmj.2014.0165
  18. Jesser A., Muckenhuber J & Lunglmayr B. (2022). Psychodynamic Therapist’s Subjective Experiences With Remote Psychotherapy During the COVID-19-Pandemic. A Qualitative Study With Therapists Practicing Guided Affective Imagery, Hypnosis and Autogenous Relaxation. Frontiers in Psychology, 12: 777102. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.777102
  19. Knaevelsrud C. & Maercker A. (2006). Does the Quality of the Working Alliance Predict Treatment Outcome in Online Psychotherapy for Traumatized Patients? Journal of Medical Internet Research 8(4): e31. DOI: 10.2196/jmir.8.4.e31
  20. Montoya M.I., Kogan C.S., Rebello T.J., Sadowska K., Garcia-Pacheco J.A., Khoury B., Kulygina M., Matsumoto C., Robles R., Huang J., Andrews H.F., Ayuso-Mateos J.L., Denny K., Gaebel W., Gureje O., Kanba S., Maré K., Medina-Mora M.E., Pike K.M., Roberts M.C., … & Reed G.M. (2022). An international survey examining the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on telehealth use among mental health professionals. Journal of psychiatric research, 148: 188-196. DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2022.01.050
  21. Moreau J.L., Cordasco K.M., Young A.S., Oishi S.M., Rose D.E., Canelo I., … & Hamilton A.B. (2018). The use of telemental health to meet the mental health needs of women using Department of Veterans Affairs Services. Women’s Health Issues, 28(2): 181-187. DOI: 10.1016/j.whi.2017.12.005
  22. Moroz N., Moroz I. & D’Angelo M.S. (2020, November). Mental health services in Canada: Barriers and cost-effective solutions to increase access. Healthcare management forum, 33(6): 282-287. DOI: 10.1177/0840470420933911
  23. Muir S.D., de Boer K., Nedeljkovic M. & Meyer D. (2020). Barriers and facilitators of videoconferencing psychotherapy implementation in veteran mental health care environments: a systematic review. BMC Health Services Research, 20(1): 1-11. DOI: 10.1186/s12913-
  24. -05858-3.
  25. Norwood C., Moghaddam N.G., Malins S. & Sabin-Farrell R. (2018). Working alliance and outcome effectiveness in videoconferencing psychotherapy: A systematic review and noninferiority meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology Psychotherapy, 25: 797-808. DOI: 10.1002/cpp.2315
  26. Olivetti E., Bongiovanni C., Staccini L., Cavadini D., Mandelli L. & Porcelli S. (2021). Passaggio alla psicoterapia online durante la pandemia da Coronavirus (Covid-19): precedente esperienza, familiarità con la tecnologia e conoscenze teoriche sulla psicoterapia online da parte del terapeuta. Il caso del Centro Medico Santagostino. Quaderni di Psicoterapia Cognitiva, 49: 21-34. DOI: 10.3280/qpc49-2021oa13211
  27. Osma J., Suso-Ribera C., Peris-Baquero Ó., Gil-Lacruz M., Pérez-Ayerra L., Ferreres-Galan V., Torres-Alfosea M.Á., López-Escriche M. & Domínguez O. (2019). What format of treatment do patients with emotional disorders prefer and why? Implications for public mental health settings and policies. PloS One, 14(6): e0218117. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0218117
  28. Palyo S.A., Schopmeyer K.A. & McQuaid J.R. (2012). Tele-pain management: Use of videoconferencing technology in the delivery of an integrated cognitive-behavioral and physical therapy group intervention. Psychological Services, 9(2): 200. DOI: 10.1037/a0025987
  29. Păsărelu C.R., Andersson G., Bergman Nordgren L. & Dobrean A. (2017). Internet-delivered transdiagnostic and tailored cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety and depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, 46(1): 1-28. DOI: 10.1080/16506073.2016.1231219
  30. Schopp L., Demiris G. & Glueckauf R. (2006). Rural backwaters or frontrunners? Rural telehealth in the vanguard of psychology practice. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 37: 165-173. DOI: 10.1037/0735-7028.37.2.165
  31. Shore J., Kaufmann L.J., Brooks E., Bair B., Dailey N., Richardson Jr. W.B., … & Manson S. (2012). Review of American Indian veteran telemental health. Telemedicine and e-Health, 18(2): 87-94. DOI: 10.1089/tmj.2011.0057
  32. Simpson S.G. & Reid C.L. (2014). Alliance in videoconferencing psychotherapy. Australian Journal of Rural Health, 22: 280-299. DOI: 10.1111/ajr.12149
  33. Simpson S., Richardson L., Pietrabissa G., Castelnuovo G. & Reid C. (2021). Videotherapy and therapeutic alliance in the age of COVID-19. Clinical psychology & psychotherapy, 28(2): 409-421. DOI: 10.1002/cpp.2521
  34. Smaniotto C., Ceschin R., Zappalà A., Nai S. & Gualtieri E. (2020). La nuova sfida della video psicoterapia su Internet. La nuova sfida della video psicoterapia su Internet. Quaderni di Psicoterapia Cognitiva, 47: 121-136.
  35. Trenoska Basile V., Newton-John T. & Wootton B.M. (2022). Remote cognitive-behavioral therapy for generalized anxiety disorder: A preliminary meta-analysis. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 78(12): 2381-2395. DOI: 10.1002/jclp.23360
  36. van Kessel K., de Pont S., Gasteiger C. & Goedeke S. (2022). Clients’ experiences of online therapy in the early stages of a COVID-19 world: A scoping review. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research. DOI: 10.1002/capr.12610

Laura Staccini, Daniele Cavadini, Rosa Gravagnuolo, Elena Olivetti, Camilla Bongiovanni, Raffaella Calati, Fabio Madeddu, Laura Mandelli, Stefano Porcelli, Passaggio alla psicoterapia online durante la pandemia da Coronavirus (Covid-19): variabili associate alla soddisfazione dei pazienti. Il caso del Centro Medico Santagostino in "QUADERNI DI PSICOTERAPIA COGNITIVA" 53/2023, pp 91-107, DOI: 10.3280/qpc53-2023oa16934