World Psychiatric Association Telepsychiatry Global Guidelines

Telepsychiatry with live interactive videoconferencing and other technologies has improved access, quality, and effectiveness of mental health care for unserved and underserved populations across the world. Clinicians, systems, and organizations took great initiative during the pandemic to help patients via telepsychiatry, calling for an update of existing guidelines and best practices. The World Psychiatric Association (WPA) Telepsychiatry Global Guidelines developed in 2020 are updated and described to serve as a key foundation for growth of telepsychiatry. The Guidelines were developed by the Association’s Informatics and Telecommunications (now Digital Mental Health) Section via outreach to, and input from, countries worldwide. The intent was to support all countries with patient care, mental health care practices, available technology, and collaborative health and public health initiatives. It was specifically intended to assist low- and middle-income countries. Methods included a survey with six domains and open-answer questions, a descriptive data charting form, and thematic and qualitative methods. A modified Delphi process was used to incorporate expert feedback from 17 telepsychiatric consultants and sections of the WPA. The Guidelines define telepsychiatry and focus on clinical and administrative practices, including the patient relationship, procedures and protocols, technical requirements, scope of practice, and contextualization to specific populations and settings. The Guidelines also promote health, technology literacy, and cultural safety. The Guidelines provide a foundation of clinical, technological, educational, research, and administrative approaches for many populations and settings, with an emphasis on patient-centered care, ensuring confidentiality and security of patient information, and ongoing evaluation and quality improvement. The Guidelines also offer an appendix with standards, surveys, and other resources. The Guidelines highlight the importance of collaboration between patients, clinicians, organizations, and policymakers for the development and implementation of telepsychiatry programs.