Telepsychiatry and e-Mental Health

Edited by Richard Wootton, Peter Yellowlees and Paul McLaren
Published by Royal Society of Medicine Press Ltd
ISBN 1-85315459-7

Professor Mary Chambers has kindly reviewed this new book. Here is an extract from her review.

This book is a collection of 26 chapters. Some are single authored and others have as many as four authors. The authors come from the United States, Australia, United Kingdom, Norway and Canada.

Divided into four sections, the book covers a range of important issues in the understanding of telepsychiatry and e-Mental Health.

  • Section one - consists of six chapters and covers background information and technical matters.
  • Section two - consists of eight chapters and examines real-time telepsychiatry - diagnosis and patient management.
  • Section three - consists of six chapters and considers e-Mental Health and the Internet - diagnosis, patient management and self help.
  • Section four - consists of six chapters and looks at the future.

The book is well written and extremely easy to read, even the chapters devoted to the more technical aspects. Often the latter can present challenges for the less technically inclined.

Each chapter is well referenced and where possible empirical data is used to support claims made. The book also acknowledges the lack of such data but emphasises that studies are increasing. It makes the point of the importance and need for evidence in support of telepsychiatry and highlights the problems of obtaining such data via randomised controlled trials.

I particularly liked the frankness of the authors in addressing the practicalities of using telepsychiatry. Section three was particularly good and provides useful guidelines for those accessing information on the Internet. Many of the chapters provide good screen shots making the material more meaningful. This book should be inspirational to professionals, service users and carers. I would certainly recommend it.

Mary Chambers
Professor of Mental Health Nursing
University of Ulster at Coleraine