Ibrahim Ferose Azeez, Pahuja Erika, Dinakaran Damodharan, Manjunatha Narayana, Kumar Channaveerachari Naveen, Math Suresh Bada
Telemedicine Centre, Dept. of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Hosur Road, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
Dept. of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Hosur Road, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
Indian J Psychol Med. 2020 Oct 8;42(5 Suppl):112S-117S. doi: 10.1177/0253717620959255. eCollection 2020 Oct.
Technology is bringing about a revolution in every field and mental health care is no exception. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has provided us with both a need and an opportunity to use technology as means to improve access to mental health care. Hence, it is imperative to expand and harness the tremendous potential of telepsychiatry by expanding the scope of its applications and the future possibilities. In this article, we explore the different avenues in digital innovation that is revolutionizing the practice in psychiatry like mental health applications, artificial intelligence, e-portals, and technology leveraging for building capacity. Also, we have also visualized what the future has in store for our practice of psychiatry, considering how rapid technological advances can occur and how these advances will impact us. There will be challenges on the road ahead, especially for a country like India for instance; the digital divide, lack of knowledge to utilize the available technology and the need for a quality control and regulation. However, it is safe to presume that telepsychiatry will evolve and progress beyond these roadblocks and will fulfill its role in transforming health care. Telepsychiatry will improve the health care capacity to interact with patients and family. The blurring of national and international borders will also open international opportunities to psychiatrist in India, heralding a new wave of virtual health tourism.
科技正在给各个领域带来一场革命，精神卫生保健也不例外。持续的新冠疫情既让我们有了利用科技改善精神卫生保健可及性的需求，也提供了这样的机遇。因此，通过扩大远程精神病学的应用范围和未来可能性来拓展并利用其巨大潜力势在必行。在本文中，我们探讨数字创新的不同途径，这些途径正在彻底改变精神病学实践，如精神卫生应用程序、人工智能、电子门户以及利用技术提升能力。此外，考虑到技术进步可能多么迅速以及这些进步将如何影响我们，我们还设想了精神病学实践的未来前景。前方道路会有挑战，尤其是对于像印度这样的国家而言；存在数字鸿沟、缺乏利用现有技术的知识以及对质量控制和监管的需求。然而，可以有把握地推测，远程精神病学将超越这些障碍不断发展进步，并将在变革医疗保健方面发挥其作用。远程精神病学将提高医疗保健机构与患者及家属互动的能力。国家和国际边界的模糊也将为印度的精神科医生带来国际机遇，迎来虚拟健康旅游的新潮流。
