Is Anyone There? Tele-Psychiatry and the Human Touch

Abstract

The practice of tele-psychiatry is growing. Case reports laud its increasing technological feasibility, and evidence indicates the reliability of tele-psychiatric diagnoses. However, the literature contains scant research substantiating the comparative efficacy of tele-psychiatry vis-à-vis face-to-face intervention and the consequent loss of ‘the human touch’. An untested modality should not be entrusted with the International Space Station and its expanding human complement. In light of the current state of knowledge, plans for long duration space flight would minimize human risk factors by allowing for in vivo psychiatric intervention. While this might be accomplished by the psychiatric training of mission personnel, it is recommended that the ideal mission specialist/flight surgeon would be a scientist/physician with resident specialty postgraduate training in a combined program of psychiatry and internal mediane where all aspects of telemedicine had been emphasized. Such a psychiatric internist would thus be on hand to administer all other forms of tele-medical support to the crew.