STAT: A telehealth effort to treat PTSD and bipolar disorder in rural areas showed ‘huge gains.’ Now comes the hard part
Over a four-year span, a study led by researchers at the University of Washington sought to deliver treatment to rural patients with post-traumatic stress disorder and bipolar disorder, complex diagnoses for which treatment is often located hours away, if it’s accessible at all. The Study to Promote Innovation in Rural Integrated Telepsychiatry, or SPIRIT found a 32% improvement on a scale of mental health functioning, and underscores the potential of technology to address gaps in rural health care.