Ethical concerns for telemental health therapy amidst governmental surveillance

Bibliographic Data

ID8725184
AuthorsSamuel D Lustgarten (0000-0001-5724-7766, corresponding author), Alexander J Colbow
Year2017
Volume72
Issue2
Pages159-170
Publication date2017-01-01
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Psychologist (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0003-066X • E-ISSN: 1935-990X
PublisherAmerican Psychological Association (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1037/a0040321
PMID28221067
OpenAlexW2589870441
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited1

Technology, infrastructure, governmental support, and interest in mental health accessibility have led to a burgeoning field of telemental health therapy (TMHT). Psychologists can now provide therapy via computers at great distances and little cost for parties involved. Growth of TMHT within the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and among psychologists surveyed by the American Psychological Association (APA) suggests optimism in this provision of services (Godleski, Darkins, & Peters, 2012; Jacobsen & Kohout, 2010). Despite these advances, psychologists using technology must keep abreast of potential limitations to privacy and confidentiality. However, no scholarly articles have appraised the ramifications of recent government surveillance disclosures (e.g., "The NSA Files"; Greenwald, 2013) and how they might affect TMHT usage within the field of psychology. This article reviews the current state of TMHT in psychology, APA's guidelines, current governmental threats to client privacy, and other ethical ramifications that might result. Best practices for the field of psychology are proposed. (PsycINFO Database Record

Confidentiality · Government (linguistics · MEDLINE · Mental health · Optimism · Political science · Psychiatry · PsycINFO · Public relations · Digital Mental Health Interventions · Mental Health Treatment and Access · Psychology · Telemedicine and Telehealth Implementation · Law · Social Psychology

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