Why do psychotherapists use so little e-mental health in psychotherapy? Insights from a sample of psychotherapists in Germany

Abstract

During the COVID-19 pandemic, psychotherapists had to use e-mental health to continue their treatment and to stay in contact with patients. Even after the pandemic, many psychotherapists continued to use modern technologies such as videoconferencing. However, the pandemic did not lead to increased use of all types of e-mental health. The aim of the present study was to assess the usage of and potential association factors with e-mental health in a sample of German psychotherapists. We focused on the use of videoconferencing and mental health apps for e-mental health use. This was an online survey study. The participants were 159 German psychotherapists with an average age of 44.02 years (SD=13.18). The survey consisted of questions about the primary psychotherapeutic approach, treating minors or adults, attitudes toward e-mental health and the individual use of modern technologies and e-mental health in private and professional contexts. In the current sample, the utilization of mental health apps is far from being integrated into daily routines, with 82% of the psychotherapists not recommending mental health apps in psychotherapy. The majority of the psychotherapists had limited technical equipment available at their workplace. The psychotherapeutic approach, potential to augment psychotherapy and technical equipment available at work were significant correlates of the therapeutic range of e-mental health use. To address low e-mental health use, it is necessary to understand the correlates of e-mental health use within different levels of use.

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