Telepsychiatry in emergency consultations: a follow-up study of sixty patients.

The objective was to investigate how telepsychiatry works in the assessment of psychiatric emergency patients. Sixty consecutive patients referred to the acute open ward having their first psychiatric contact through the videolink with the psychiatrist on duty. Only minor technical problems occurred. The results suggest both acceptance and satisfaction on the part of patients and staff with new technology, instead of waiting for a consultation or traveling to see a psychiatrist in face-to-face meeting. Telepsychiatry seems to be suitable for the assessment of psychiatric emergency patients, and satisfactory for patients and staff alike.