Global/worldwide e-mental health: International and futuristic perspectives of telepsychiatry and the future

Telemedicine and Internet-enabled clinical systems are already widely available and are starting to have an impact on the doctor-patient relationship and will increasingly do this more in future. Research shows that online MH interventions are as effective as traditional face-to-face therapy for disorders such as depression and anxiety. We explore the impact of technology on the doctor-patient relationship as new technologies and clinical processes are applied to patient care (e.g., virtual patient advocates). In the future, we will likely change clinical processes, add models of care (e.g., hybrids), better apply new technologies to the underserved (e.g., cross-cultural populations), and have even newer technologies to size up.