A Review of Models and Efficacy of Telepsychiatry for Inpatient Service Delivery: Proposing a Model for Indian Settings

BACKGROUND: The use of telepsychiatry (TP) for inpatient service delivery is still an emerging field and there is limited literature on its practice and evidence. This review was conducted with the objectives of (a) exploring the models of TP for inpatient service delivery, (b) qualitative synthesis of the efficacy of TP in inpatient settings, and (c) proposing a best-fit model of TP-based inpatient care for Indian settings. METHODS: An electronic database search was conducted on July 22, 2020, in PubMed, Directory of Open Access Journals, and Google Scholar for relevant articles. Seventeen articles were included in the review. RESULTS: The review revealed three models for TP-based inpatient care; direct care model, teleconsultation model, and the collaborative care model. Preliminary evidence suggests that TP is cost-effective and reliable, and that patients and service providers are highly satisfied with this approach. Evidence gaps were seen for some diagnostic categories such as psychosis and for extremes of age groups. Based on the existing models, we propose an Indian model for implementing TP in inpatient settings. CONCLUSION: Promising initial results and the evidence gaps highlight the need for further research in this area.