Fast, Noam, van Kessel, Robin 
ORCID: 0000-0001-6309-6343, Humphreys, Keith, Ward, Natalie Frances and Roman-Urrestarazu, Andres
(2023)
The evolution of telepsychiatry for substance use disorders during COVID-19: a narrative review.
Current Addiction Reports, 10 (2).
187 - 197.
ISSN 2196-2952
Abstract
Purpose of Review This article aims to review and synthesize the current research evidence regarding the efficacy of telepsychiatry-delivered substance use disorder treatment using a narrative review with a focus on the effects of remote healthcare delivery within the substance abuse treatment space. Recent Findings The COVID-19 pandemic exerted substantial pressures on all levels of society. Social isolation, loss of employment, stress, physical illness, overburdened health services, unmet medical needs, and rapidly changing pandemic restrictions had particularly severe consequences for people with mental health issues and substance use disorders. Since the start of the pandemic, addiction treatment (and medical treatment overall) using remote health platforms has significantly expanded to different platforms and delivery systems. The USA, in particular, reported transformational policy developments to enable the delivery of telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, systemic barriers such as a widespread lack of internet access and insufficient patient and provider digital skills remain. Summary Overall, telepsychiatry is a promising approach for the treatment of substance use disorders, but more randomized controlled trials are needed in the future to assess the evidence base of available interventions.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Additional Information: | © 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG |
| Divisions: | LSE Health Health Policy |
| Subjects: | R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology |
| Date Deposited: | 09 Sep 2025 08:54 |
| Last Modified: | 10 Sep 2025 18:22 |
| URI: | http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/129432 |
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