Diagnostic assessment via live telehealth (phone or video) versus face-to-face for the diagnoses of psychiatric conditions: a systematic review

Objective: <br/>To determine the validity of telephone or video interviews compared to face-to-face interviews for psychiatric diagnosis.<br/><br/>Data Sources: <br/>We searched MEDLINE, Embase, and PsycINFO from inception to June 22, 2023, and performed backward and forward citation analysis on all included studies on August 3, 2023.<br/><br/>Study Selection: <br/>We included primary studies comparing live telehealth (via telephone or videoconferencing) with face-to-face interviews using the same standardized diagnostic criteria for a mental health condition. Each patient had to undergo both modes of interviewing. Risk of bias was assessed using Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2.<br/><br/>Results: <br/>This review included 35 studies. Seven clinical studies compared telehealth with face-to-face consultations for initial psychiatric diagnosis, finding that telehealth via video or telephone is a reliable alternative for some specific disorders or populations. The remaining 28 studies assessed the use of mental health standardized diagnostic instruments via telehealth for conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder, PTSD, social anxiety disorder, and autism spectrum disorder, demonstrating good agreement and reliability. Telehealth holds promise for psychiatric assessments, particularly when in-person evaluations are not feasible.<br/><br/>Conclusions:<br/>Limited studies, mostly conducted before the expansion of telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic, suggest that telehealth-based psychiatric diagnoses or assessments of various conditions are viable options. These should be considered in appropriate situations, settings, or environments. However, more research is needed as telehealth becomes more broadly utilized.<br/>