Use of videophones and low-cost standard telephone lines to provide a social presence in telepsychiatry.
Research findings suggest that the value added by the video channel of currently available video conferencing technology is limited to the creation of a social presence of the other party. Almost all clinical information exchange takes place on the audio channel, while the interpersonal interactions (nods, blinks, facial expressions, and body language), which are so important in a face-to-face meeting, may not be adequately captured by the video. Several of our case studies are presented which suggest that, consistent with the social presence role for video, low-cost videophones may be effectively substituted for expensive ISDN-based systems in many mental health applications.
Cukor
P
P
Consolidated Department of Psychiatry, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Baer
L
L
Willis
B S
BS
Leahy
L
L
O'Laughlen
J
J
Murphy
M
M
Withers
M
M
Martin
E
E
D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000628:therapy; D001010:Anxiety, Separation / Q000628:therapy; D001900:Boston; D002648:Child; D003142:Communication; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003863:Depression / Q000628:therapy; D005149:Facial Expression; D005260:Female; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000534:rehabilitation; D007697:Kinesics; D008281:Maine; D008297:Male; D008404:Massachusetts; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D009633:Nonverbal Communication; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011570:Psychiatry; D019114:Remote Consultation; D013685:Telecommunications; D013689:Telephone / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation; D000092864:Suicide Prevention