Telepsychiatry for people with intellectual disabilities and mental health difficulties during Covid-19 pandemic: survey of self-reported experience and acceptability to patients, carers and psychiatrists in the UK

Abstract

Aim: This project sought to ascertain views and experiences of people with intellectual disabilities, their carers’, and specialist intellectual disability psychiatrists as to use of telepsychiatry consultations. Background: During the Covid-19 pandemic specialist psychiatrists in intellectual disability services in the United Kingdom (UK) have explored and adopted use of telepsychiatry for psychiatric consultations. Method: An easy-read co-designed questionnaire was sent to potential respondents N = 590 potential respondents (N = 280 patients, N = 280 carers), and a separate questionnaire was sent electronically to N = 30 specialist intellectual disability psychiatrists. Findings: Responses were received from N = 192 respondents (N = 68 (24%) patients, N = 98 (35%) carers, and N = 26 (90%)) psychiatrists. Advantages of telepsychiatry cited were flexibility, and it being less disruptive to patients’ routines, offering convenient practice and saving travel time and cost. Disadvantages reported included loss of rapport and relationship with patients, and an inability to conduct an effective mental state examination. Conclusion: This survey has produced equivocal evidence as to acceptability of telepsychiatry for all people with intellectual disabilities, carers and psychiatrists cannot be assumed. Some patients may need significant support to enable them to engage with such an approach.