Ethical Issues in Online Psychotherapy: A Narrative Review
BackgroundThe provision of psychotherapy over distance using technology is a growing market reaching many patients and therefore the risks and benefits need to be known by all psychotherapists whether they themselves practice online or not. This comprehensive review of the main ethical arguments for...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2020-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00993/full |
| _version_ | 1819077211577122816 |
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| author | Julia Stoll Jonas Adrian Müller Manuel Trachsel |
| author_facet | Julia Stoll Jonas Adrian Müller Manuel Trachsel |
| author_sort | Julia Stoll |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundThe provision of psychotherapy over distance using technology is a growing market reaching many patients and therefore the risks and benefits need to be known by all psychotherapists whether they themselves practice online or not. This comprehensive review of the main ethical arguments for and against different forms of online psychotherapy aims to enhance discussion of ethical issues in this growing area.MethodsA search of three databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science) was conducted in August 2019 using a specific search protocol yielding 249 publications.ResultsOf 24 ethical arguments in favor of online psychotherapy and 32 against, the top five ethical arguments in favor of online psychotherapy were (1) increased access to psychotherapy and service availability and flexibility; (2) therapy benefits and enhanced communication; (3) advantages related to specific client characteristics (e.g. remote location); (4) convenience, satisfaction, acceptance, and increased demand; and (5) economic advantages. The top five ethical arguments against engagement in online psychotherapy were (1) privacy, confidentiality, and security issues; (2) therapist competence and need for special training; (3) communication issues specific to technology; (4) research gaps; and (5) emergency issues.ConclusionsThe findings may be of help to practitioners in deciding whether to engage in online psychotherapy, and in informing patients about risks and benefits, improving ethical guidelines, and stimulating further ethical discussion. The findings are argumentative and qualitative in nature, and further quantitative research is needed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T18:53:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0b3967f7973f44be90c4c6e95edcf09b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-0640 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T18:53:36Z |
| publishDate | 2020-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-0b3967f7973f44be90c4c6e95edcf09b2022-12-21T18:53:41ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychiatry1664-06402020-02-011010.3389/fpsyt.2019.00993498439Ethical Issues in Online Psychotherapy: A Narrative ReviewJulia StollJonas Adrian MüllerManuel TrachselBackgroundThe provision of psychotherapy over distance using technology is a growing market reaching many patients and therefore the risks and benefits need to be known by all psychotherapists whether they themselves practice online or not. This comprehensive review of the main ethical arguments for and against different forms of online psychotherapy aims to enhance discussion of ethical issues in this growing area.MethodsA search of three databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science) was conducted in August 2019 using a specific search protocol yielding 249 publications.ResultsOf 24 ethical arguments in favor of online psychotherapy and 32 against, the top five ethical arguments in favor of online psychotherapy were (1) increased access to psychotherapy and service availability and flexibility; (2) therapy benefits and enhanced communication; (3) advantages related to specific client characteristics (e.g. remote location); (4) convenience, satisfaction, acceptance, and increased demand; and (5) economic advantages. The top five ethical arguments against engagement in online psychotherapy were (1) privacy, confidentiality, and security issues; (2) therapist competence and need for special training; (3) communication issues specific to technology; (4) research gaps; and (5) emergency issues.ConclusionsThe findings may be of help to practitioners in deciding whether to engage in online psychotherapy, and in informing patients about risks and benefits, improving ethical guidelines, and stimulating further ethical discussion. The findings are argumentative and qualitative in nature, and further quantitative research is needed.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00993/fullonline psychotherapytelepsychologytelepsychiatryethicstechnology |
| spellingShingle | Julia Stoll Jonas Adrian Müller Manuel Trachsel Ethical Issues in Online Psychotherapy: A Narrative Review Frontiers in Psychiatry online psychotherapy telepsychology telepsychiatry ethics technology |
| title | Ethical Issues in Online Psychotherapy: A Narrative Review |
| title_full | Ethical Issues in Online Psychotherapy: A Narrative Review |
| title_fullStr | Ethical Issues in Online Psychotherapy: A Narrative Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ethical Issues in Online Psychotherapy: A Narrative Review |
| title_short | Ethical Issues in Online Psychotherapy: A Narrative Review |
| title_sort | ethical issues in online psychotherapy a narrative review |
| topic | online psychotherapy telepsychology telepsychiatry ethics technology |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00993/full |
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