[Remote treatment from a psychotherapeutic point of view].

There is a broad variety of digital applications available that may enhance psychotherapeutic treatment and potentially lead to enhanced care of mentally ill patients, yet these applications cannot replace psychotherapeutic treatment. Among them are videoconferencing technologies, which allow psychotherapists and their patients to communicate over long distances. Beside this, internet-based treatment programs and health-apps are available for prevention and treatment of mental disorders. The following article describes chances and risks related to the use of digital applications in the care of mentally ill patients.For digital applications to enhance psychotherapeutic care, they need to be applied as thoroughly as psychotherapeutic interventions delivered in direct contact. This means, that diagnostics and education about treatment and setting need to be delivered in direct contact between psychotherapist and patient. The article further describes current regulatory frameworks relevant to the use of digital applications in psychotherapeutic care.