What is it about?
A team of mental health researchers published a study on the effectiveness of hybrid psychiatric care—which includes telephone, virtual, and in-person visits—compared to outpatient waitlist groups. The study's participants were primarily diagnosed with unipolar depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and bipolar disorder. Using patient-reported outcome measures, the researchers found that patients who received hybrid care experienced significant improvements in symptom severity compared to those on waitlists. This suggests that hybrid care is an effective option for mental health treatment.
Why is it important?
Unlike strictly in person or telehealth, hybrid care has not been studied in the literature. This research provides evidence that hybrid care in psychiatry is effective. It also highlights the utility of measuring progress in psychiatry via patient-reported outcome measures like the PHQ-9 and GAD-7.