Journal of Angiotherapy
Angiogenesis, Inflammation & Therapeutics | Online ISSN  2207-872X
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Contents Vol 8 (1)

Enhancing Psychiatric Care in Emergency Departments: Telepsychiatry, Barriers, and Interventions

Dubayyan Sati Fari Alshaibani 1*, Raed Marzouq Alotaibi 1, Abdulrahman Jammaz Aljammaz 1,  Sami Nawaf Mohammed Alsharif  2, Alzaedi, Feras Mohammed H 2, Fatimah Husain Yahya Dabash 3, Fahad Hamdi Khalif ALAnazi 4,  Maha Mahdi Alanazi 4, Saleh Ali Saleh Al Salloum 4, Eissa Homuday Almuteriee 4, Turki Suleiman Aqeel Al-Shammari 4, Abdulellah Abdulqader Kassar 4, Badi talea Alharbi 4, Osamah Musa Almutairi 4, Khaled Ramadan matar Al-zahrani 4, Jawaher Sahud Khurais Alnefaie 4, Rakan Ahmed Saleh Albalawi  4, Ghassan Abdullah Hassan Fallatah 4, Abrar Abdullah Ibrahim AlFardan 4, Hamdi Saleem Alharbi  4, Bandar Mansour Alanzi 4, ‏Ali Abdullah Mohammed Alajlan 4, ‏Ahmad Asri Awad Alanazi 4, ‏Abdulrahman Ibrahim Abdullah Al Fahad 4,  Ahmed Abdulkarim Sulaiman Alnughaymishi 4, Shalah Hmoud Al Harbi 4, Sultan  Kadisi Almunif 4

+ Author Affiliations

Journal of Angiotherapy 8 (1) 1-8 https://doi.org/10.25163/angiotherapy.8110088

Submitted: 03 October 2023 Revised: 14 January 2024  Published: 15 January 2024 

Abstract

Background: Emergency departments (EDs) serve as critical points of access to healthcare, especially for patients with mental health disorders. Despite the increasing number of such patients seeking care in EDs, several barriers to effective psychiatric care persist, including overcrowding, insufficient resources, and prolonged waiting times. Innovations such as telepsychiatry and integrated psychiatric services aim to address these challenges, offering more efficient, accessible, and comprehensive care to individuals in crisis. However, the effectiveness, feasibility, and scalability of these approaches remain underexplored. Methods: This systematic review examines the impact of various interventions in EDs aimed at improving psychiatric care for patients with mental health conditions. We reviewed studies evaluating telepsychiatry services, psychiatric liaison teams, crisis intervention strategies, and integrated care models across multiple healthcare settings. A total of 32 studies, including both quantitative and qualitative research, were included, covering a range of outcomes such as patient satisfaction, treatment effectiveness, and healthcare utilization patterns. Results: The findings revealed that telepsychiatry services significantly reduced wait times, improved access to care, and enhanced patient satisfaction. Additionally, integrated psychiatric care models, including psychiatric liaison services, were associated with better patient outcomes, such as reduced readmissions and improved continuity of care. Barriers to implementation included resource limitations, resistance to change, and challenges in training healthcare providers. Despite these challenges, successful interventions often included tailored approaches, strong leadership, and stakeholder collaboration. Conclusion: The implementation of telepsychiatry and integrated psychiatric services in EDs represents a promising strategy for improving care for patients with mental health disorders. However, the scalability of these interventions requires addressing systemic barriers such as workforce capacity, funding, and institutional support. Future research should focus on optimizing these models to enhance patient outcomes and reduce healthcare system burden.

Keywords: telepsychiatry, emergency department, mental health, barriers, psychiatric care

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