For millions of Americans, mental health treatment is largely out of reach—a fact one FIU psychologist is trying to change.
Jonathan Comer is leading the way in telemedicine for mental health disorders – the use of electronic media to provide health care services traditionally delivered in person. Because in-person treatment can be costly, time-consuming and not always available in convenient locations, many don't seek help. But with the use of technology, Comer believes he can help families receive the help they need.
Comer is the director of the Mental Health Interventions and Technology Program at FIU's Center for Children and Families. The program develops technology-based solutions to the treatment of mental health problems. Currently, Comer and his team are exploring ways to provide highly specialized therapy to families remotely. They are specifically looking at internet-delivered therapy for children with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and other disruptive behavior disorders.
"This is a really exciting new direction in mental health care," Comer said. "It is one of the most significant shifts in mental health care in 10 years."
The idea is to have general mental health care practitioners refer patients with serious psychiatric symptoms to a specialist. That specialist will then be able to provide therapy remotely using the internet, wireless electronic devices, video teleconferencing or a combination of the three.
For children with disruptive behavior disorders, early intervention is crucial. One of the most effective treatments for children with behavior disorders is parent-child interaction therapy – changing how parents and children interact to improve their relationship as well as the child's behavior. However, there are some obstacles to overcome regarding the availability, accessibility and acceptability of evidence-based early intervention methods.
[For more of this story Aylee Barbel Fattal, go to http://medicalxpress.com/news/...s-mental-health.html]
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