Telehealth Likely as Effective as In-Person Care for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

Journal of Affective Disorders: Telehealth Likely as Effective as In-Person Care for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

A study found that a switch from in-person to virtual care did not appear to have a negative impact on the health of patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) being treated in a partial-hospital setting. Patients with MDD who were treated through a partial-hospital program (PHP) before the pandemic, when care was delivered in-person, and after the start of the pandemic, when care transitioned to a virtual telehealth model. Researchers noted that some patients preferred the virtual format, not just due to concerns about COVID-19, but because they had limited transportation or health issues that made it difficult to travel. Researchers also noted that insurance coverage could be the determining factor in whether telehealth care continues.