Informed consent to e-therapy.
E-therapy, the provision of mental health treatment through the Internet, poses many risks as well as benefits. This article addresses some relevant risks and benefits of e-therapy and discusses the practicality of using computers in the informed consent process. Although e-therapy has numerous proponents, no clinical trials have assessed its long-term effectiveness. To limit liability and to protect patients, e-therapy providers should disclose material risks as well as possible benefits and engage patients in an active dialogue. A thorough informed consent procedure enables patients to make an educated decision about whether e-therapy is right for them. In the future, e-therapy and informed consent online may become more common; in the mean time, clinicians must be prepared for e-therapy's uncertain legal status and allow patients to decide for themselves whether or not to seek counseling on the Internet.
Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA. Patricia_Recupero@Brown.edu
Patricia R
PR
Recupero
Samara E
SE
Rainey
D003219:Confidentiality / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D034742:Electronic Mail / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D020407:Internet / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D008318:Malpractice / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014481:United States; D049269:Videoconferencing / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence