Faculty Publications

A Pilot Study Of A Family Systems Oriented Telemental Health Model In Rural Brazil

Document Type

Article

Keywords

clinical, delivery systems, families, intervention/technique, MFT as a profession, populations, professional/practice issues, training/education, training/supervision

Journal/Book/Conference Title

Journal of Marital and Family Therapy

Volume

47

Issue

2

First Page

533

Last Page

548

Abstract

There are large disparities in access to mental health care, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Telemental health is a viable solution to reducing these disparities, but quality research demonstrating its effectiveness is needed. The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the feasibility of a telemental health approach in a rural region of Brazil. Primary care providers referred patients diagnosed with depression and anxiety to a 12-session family systems-oriented telemental health program developed by the researchers. Participants (n = 10) received therapy by family systems trained therapists. While sessions were delivered via telemental health, each received one face-to-face session as part of the treatment regimen. Results from the one-tailed t-tests indicate reductions in psychosocial symptoms and improvements in family functioning with medium and large effect sizes. Findings reveal that a family systems-oriented telemental health approach is a promising intervention for improving mental health outcomes in a middle-income country.

Department

School of Applied Human Sciences

Original Publication Date

4-1-2021

DOI of published version

10.1111/jmft.12500

Repository

UNI ScholarWorks, Rod Library, University of Northern Iowa

Language

en

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