Telehealth May Improve Addiction Treatment, But More Research Needed
Telehealth may help engage patients in addiction treatment through better access and convenience, but more research is needed to confirm the benefits, according to a literature review published in Psychiatric Services.
“We were able to identify only eight studies comparing the effectiveness of addiction treatment via telehealth with that of in-person treatment,” researchers wrote. “In contrast, there is a large research base on the effectiveness of telehealth for treating mental disorders.”
Of the 8 studies identified, most involved fewer than 150 patients. Nevertheless, 7 found telehealth addiction treatment just as effective, although not more effective, than in-person addiction treatment when it came to retention, therapeutic alliance, satisfaction with treatment, and substance use. A larger Canadian study found better retention with methadone medication management via telehealth.
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In addition to the review, researchers surveyed 100 California organizations providing addiction treatment and conducted interviews with 30 addiction professionals and other stakeholders about their use and perceptions of telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the study, addiction professionals were most comfortable using telehealth for individual counseling: 46% of respondents considered telehealth equally or more effective than in-person counseling, while 45% considered telehealth less effective.
Regarding telehealth for intake assessment, 40% of addiction professionals thought telehealth was equally or more effective, while 49% considered it less effective. When it came to group counseling, just 25% thought telehealth was equally or more effective than in-person, and 62% considered it less effective.
“Providers in our study noted that the relative benefit of telehealth depended on a client’s circumstances and stage of treatment. New patients, patients who are homeless, patients who are isolated, patients who are not comfortable using technology, patients with attention challenges, and patients without private spaces to talk may be better suited to in-person treatment,” they wrote. “Conversely, patients with young children, patients who find it difficult to take time off and travel to appointments, and patients who prefer meeting online may benefit from telehealth treatment.”
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