In the room when it happens

Summary: Telepsychiatry, as a supplement to or substitute for face-to-face therapeutic consultations, has seen unprecedented development during the current pandemic crisis. While treatment results of online video consultations appear comparable to traditional care, there are significant changes in communication behavior to consider. These changes may impact the ethical aspects of therapeutic relationships in psychiatry.

Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the use of telepsychiatry, raising ethical issues such as patient benefit, distributive justice, privacy, and autonomy. It is considered a vital aspect of providing psychiatric care and should continue to be offered beyond the pandemic. Further investigation and advocacy efforts are needed to determine its exact role in psychiatric care and expand its availability for those most in need.