Evaluation of the Effects of Telepsychotherapy in the Treatment and Prevention of Eating Disorders in Adolescents

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Nov 29;18(23):12573. doi: 10.3390/ijerph182312573.

Abstract

According to the WHO definition, "telemedicine is the provision of health services, where distance is a critical factor, by all health professionals who use information and communication technologies for the exchange of valid information for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of diseases, research and evaluation, and for the continuous training of health professionals, all in the interest of advancing the health of individuals and their communities". The purpose of our review work is specifically to investigate the effects of telemedicine in the treatment and prevention of eating disorders in adolescents. From June 2021 to (September 2021) in the databases of the Web of Science, EMBASE, PsycINFO and CINHAL, using search terms such as telehealth, eating disorder, adolescents, Internet/online treatments CBT and FB-T, anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder. The articles resulting from the search phases in the databases listed above produced a total of 176 items. Once the procedures for selecting the works were completed, only four studies were included in the review. Modern e-health psychological approaches in the treatment of eating disorders provide potential bases of continuous assistance that are decidedly less burdensome in the costs of territorial services in the case that they are not identified as necessary.

Keywords: adolescents; anorexia nervosa; bulimia nervosa; e-health; prevention of eating disorders; telepsychotherapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Binge-Eating Disorder*
  • Bulimia Nervosa*
  • Feeding and Eating Disorders* / prevention & control
  • Humans
  • Psychotherapy
  • Telemedicine*