Abstract
BackgroundObtaining collateral information from a patient is an essential component of providing effective psychiatric and psychotherapeutic care. Research indicates that patients’ social and electronic media contains information relevant to their psychotherapy and clinical care. However, it remains unclear to what degree this content is being actively utilized by clinicians as a part of diagnosis or therapy. Moreover, clinicians’ attitudes around this practice have not been well characterized.ObjectiveThis survey aimed to establish the current attitudes and behaviors of outpatient clinicians regarding the incorporation of patients’ social and electronic media into psychotherapy.MethodsA Web-based survey was sent to outpatient psychotherapists associated with McLean Hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts. The survey asked clinicians to indicate to what extent and with which patients they reviewed patients’ social and electronic media content as part of their clinical practice, as well as their reasons for or against doing so.ResultsOf the total 115 respondents, 71 (61.7%) indicated that they had viewed at least one patient’s social or electronic media as part of psychotherapy, and 65 of those 71 (92%) endorsed being able to provide more effective treatment as a result of this information. The use of either short message service text messages or email was significantly greater than the use of other electronic media platforms (χ21=24.1, n=115, P<.001). Moreover, the analysis of survey responses found patterns of use associated with clinicians’ years of experience and patient demographics, including age and primary diagnosis.ConclusionsThe incorporation of patients’ social and electronic media into therapy is currently common practice among clinicians at a large psychiatric teaching hospital. The results of this survey have informed further questions about whether reviewing patient’s media impacts the quality and efficacy of clinical care.
Highlights
Electronic and social media platforms have become ubiquitous and essential tools in navigating the 21st century [1]
The use of either short message service text messages or email was significantly greater than the use of other electronic media platforms (χ21=24.1, n=115, P
The survey population consisted of 115 outpatient psychotherapy clinicians associated with McLean Hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts, who completed a Web-based survey regarding their use of social and electronic media as part of their standard clinical care
Summary
Electronic and social media platforms have become ubiquitous and essential tools in navigating the 21st century [1]. Content stored and shared on these platforms, contains extensive information about our everyday lives and interactions [2]. Research in the mental health field has begun to explore whether electronic and social media content may contain clinically relevant markers of individuals’ behavior and mental health. During this period of rapid uptake in utilization of these platforms, it is important to understand how they may reflect, impact, or be used to augment treatment for mental health conditions. Research indicates that patients’ social and electronic media contains information relevant to their psychotherapy and clinical care. Clinicians’ attitudes around this practice have not been well characterized
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