Department of Psychology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming 82071-3415, USA.
Telemed J E Health. 2011 May;17(4):309-15. doi: 10.1089/tmj.2010.0147. Epub 2011 Apr 1.
Although evidence-based treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have been available for some time, many treatment-seeking trauma survivors are unable to access such services. This is especially the case in remote and rural areas where access to specialists is an exception rather than a rule. Advances in videoconferencing-based technologies are improving rural residents' access to specialized psychological services. However, at present, little is known about the viability and efficacy of providing psychological interventions via distal technologies to individuals who present at rural domestic violence and rape crisis centers. The present study attempts to partially address this void by evaluating, in the context of an uncontrolled trial, the effectiveness and feasibility of providing evidence-based, trauma-focused treatment via videoconferencing to rural survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.
Participants in the present study were clients referred to the Wyoming Trauma Telehealth Treatment Clinic (WTTTC) for psychological services via videoconferencing from distal domestic violence and rape crisis centers located in the state of Wyoming. Fifteen female victims of assaultive violence who received at least four sessions of trauma-focused treatment via videoconferencing-based technology at distal rape and domestic violence crisis centers were included in the present study. Participants completed measures of PTSD and depression symptom severity and client satisfaction.
Participants evidenced large reductions on measures of PTSD (d = 1.17) and depression (d = 1.24) symptom severity following treatment via videoconferencing. Additionally, participants reported a high degree of satisfaction with videoconferencing-administered services.
Results provide evidence in support of videoconferencing as an effective means to provide psychological services to rural domestic violence and sexual assault populations. Clinical implications and avenues for future research are discussed.
尽管创伤后应激障碍（PTSD）的循证治疗已经存在了一段时间，但许多寻求治疗的创伤幸存者无法获得这些服务。在偏远和农村地区，这种情况尤其如此，因为那里的专家资源非常有限。基于视频会议的技术进步正在改善农村居民获得专业心理服务的机会。然而，目前对于通过远程技术向农村家庭暴力和强奸危机中心的个人提供心理干预的可行性和疗效知之甚少。本研究试图通过在非对照试验中评估通过视频会议向农村家庭暴力和性侵犯幸存者提供基于循证的创伤焦点治疗的有效性和可行性，部分解决这一空白。
本研究的参与者是通过视频会议从位于怀俄明州的远程家庭暴力和强奸危机中心转介到怀俄明州创伤远程治疗诊所（WTTTC）接受心理服务的客户。本研究纳入了 15 名接受过至少 4 次基于视频会议的创伤焦点治疗的攻击暴力女性受害者，这些受害者来自偏远的强奸和家庭暴力危机中心。参与者完成了 PTSD 和抑郁症状严重程度以及客户满意度的测量。
参与者在接受基于视频会议的创伤焦点治疗后，在 PTSD（d=1.17）和抑郁（d=1.24）症状严重程度方面均有显著降低。此外，参与者报告对视频会议提供的服务非常满意。
研究结果为视频会议作为向农村家庭暴力和性侵犯人群提供心理服务的有效手段提供了证据。讨论了临床意义和未来研究的方向。
