Patient Acceptance of and Initiation and Engagement in Telepsychotherapy in Primary Care

ObjectiveThe study examined factors associated with the utilization of psychotherapy offered in primary care via videoconferencing (telepsychotherapy).MethodsPrimary care patients with depression (N=179) recruited from five Federally Qualified Health Centers were randomly assigned to telemedicine-based collaborative care and offered free telepsychotherapy. Independent variables included measures of access to and need for treatment. Logistic regression identified variables associated with acceptability of and initiation and engagement in telepsychotherapy.ResultsTo 76% of patients the idea of participating in psychotherapy was acceptable. Thirty-eight percent scheduled a telepsychotherapy session, 17% attended a session, and 8% engaged in treatment (attended at least eight sessions). Because the intervention was designed to minimize barriers, access was not a significant predictor of utilization. However, use of telepsychotherapy was associated with measures of perceived need.ConclusionsEven when psychothe...