Telepsychiatric care of American Indian veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder: bridging gaps in geography, organizations, and culture.

Abstract

This paper describes a weekly telepsychiatry clinic treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among Northern Plains American Indian Veterans. The clinic represents a unique partnership of five different organizations, including two agencies within the Veterans Affairs Administration, a tribal veterans program, the Indian Health Service, and a university medical center. It is the first report of a telepsychiatry clinic targeting American Indians, as well as the first account of a telepsychiatry clinic focusing on PTSD treatment. A total of 50 telehealth clinic interactions occurred during the first 7 months, consisting of ongoing group psychotherapy, individual therapy, and medication management. Quality control measures exhibited a high degree of patient satisfaction and comfort with the clinic. Although the findings presented here are preliminary, this clinic represents a viable model for the delivery of telepsychiatric services. Future research is needed regarding the process and outcomes of delivering psychiatric care by this means for rural, isolated, American Indians, as well as of the treatment of PTSD via real-time, interactive videoconferencing.