Mentally ill Australians being diagnosed and treated online
May 31st, 2010 - 6:05 pm ICT by ANISydney, May 31 (ANI): Computers, instead of doctors, are diagnosing and providing treatment to patients with mental illness in Australia.
People suffering from depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder are being provided ‘e-prescriptions’.
Patients can avail psychiatric reviews by answering online questions.
They also have the option to enroll in a free electronic self-help treatment program or receive assistance from an online therapist at limited cost.
However, the system does not provide services for serious conditions such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.
‘Within five to 20 years we will have a proven e-therapy for most of the psychological conditions. Once you do that, you have 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week low-cost access for everyone,’ the Sydney Morning Herald quoted David Austin, the co-director of the National eTherapy Centre’s Anxiety Online program, as saying.
He added: ‘It’s a radical departure from the mental health system we have now where even though less than 10 per cent of people with a psychiatric problem seek professional help there’s still waiting lists, there’s still problems with access; people in regional and rural areas haven’t even got an option to go on a waiting list because there is no service. E-therapy just completely wipes away all those issues.’
More than 5000 patients with a range of anxiety disorders have been diagnosed by the service, since its launch in October.
The facility can be availed at a cheaper price than visit to psychiatrist. (ANI)
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