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Provision of Psychotherapy during the COVID-19 Pandemic among Czech, German and Slovak Psychotherapists

Author

Listed:
  • Elke Humer

    (Department for Psychotherapy and Biopsychosocial Health, Danube University Krems, 3500 Krems, Austria)

  • Christoph Pieh

    (Department for Psychotherapy and Biopsychosocial Health, Danube University Krems, 3500 Krems, Austria)

  • Martin Kuska

    (Department for Psychotherapy and Biopsychosocial Health, Danube University Krems, 3500 Krems, Austria)

  • Antonia Barke

    (Clinical and Biological Psychology, Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, 85072 Eichstätt, Germany)

  • Bettina K. Doering

    (Clinical and Biological Psychology, Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, 85072 Eichstätt, Germany)

  • Katharina Gossmann

    (Clinical and Biological Psychology, Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, 85072 Eichstätt, Germany)

  • Radek Trnka

    (Science and Research Department, Prague College of Psychosocial Studies, 14900 Prague, Czech Republic
    Olomouc University Social Health Institute (OUSHI), Palacky University Olomouc, 77111 Olomouc, Czech Republic)

  • Zdenek Meier

    (Olomouc University Social Health Institute (OUSHI), Palacky University Olomouc, 77111 Olomouc, Czech Republic)

  • Natalia Kascakova

    (Olomouc University Social Health Institute (OUSHI), Palacky University Olomouc, 77111 Olomouc, Czech Republic
    Psychiatric-Psychotherapeutic Outpatient Clinic, Pro mente sana, 81108 Bratislava, Slovakia)

  • Peter Tavel

    (Olomouc University Social Health Institute (OUSHI), Palacky University Olomouc, 77111 Olomouc, Czech Republic)

  • Thomas Probst

    (Department for Psychotherapy and Biopsychosocial Health, Danube University Krems, 3500 Krems, Austria)

Abstract

Psychotherapists around the world are facing an unprecedented situation with the outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). To combat the rapid spread of the virus, direct contact with others has to be avoided when possible. Therefore, remote psychotherapy provides a valuable option to continue mental health care during the COVID-19 pandemic. The present study investigated the fear of psychotherapists to become infected with COVID-19 during psychotherapy in personal contact and assessed how the provision of psychotherapy changed due to the COVID-19 situation and whether there were differences with regard to country and gender. Psychotherapists from three European countries: Czech Republic (CZ, n = 112), Germany (DE, n = 130) and Slovakia (SK, n = 96), with on average 77.8% female participants, completed an online survey. Participants rated the fear of COVID-19 infection during face-to-face psychotherapy and reported the number of patients treated on average per week (in personal contact, via telephone, via internet) during the COVID-19 situation as well as (retrospectively) in the months before. Fear of COVID-19 infection was highest in SK and lowest in DE ( p < 0.001) and was higher in female compared to male psychotherapists ( p = 0.021). In all countries, the number of patients treated on average per week in personal contact decreased ( p < 0.001) and remote psychotherapies increased ( p < 0.001), with more patients being treated via internet than via telephone during the COVID-19 situation ( p < 0.001). Furthermore, female psychotherapists treated less patients in personal contact ( p = 0.036), while they treated more patients via telephone than their male colleagues ( p = 0.015). Overall, the total number of patients treated did not differ during COVID-19 from the months before ( p = 0.133) and psychotherapy in personal contact remained the most common treatment modality. Results imply that the supply of mental health care could be maintained during COVID-19 and that changes in the provision of psychotherapy vary among countries and gender.

Suggested Citation

  • Elke Humer & Christoph Pieh & Martin Kuska & Antonia Barke & Bettina K. Doering & Katharina Gossmann & Radek Trnka & Zdenek Meier & Natalia Kascakova & Peter Tavel & Thomas Probst, 2020. "Provision of Psychotherapy during the COVID-19 Pandemic among Czech, German and Slovak Psychotherapists," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-15, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:13:p:4811-:d:380245
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Cuiyan Wang & Riyu Pan & Xiaoyang Wan & Yilin Tan & Linkang Xu & Cyrus S. Ho & Roger C. Ho, 2020. "Immediate Psychological Responses and Associated Factors during the Initial Stage of the 2019 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Epidemic among the General Population in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-25, March.
    2. Thomas Probst & Peter Stippl & Christoph Pieh, 2020. "Changes in Provision of Psychotherapy in the Early Weeks of the COVID-19 Lockdown in Austria," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-10, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Elke Humer & Peter Stippl & Christoph Pieh & Wolfgang Schimböck & Thomas Probst, 2020. "Psychotherapy via the Internet: What Programs Do Psychotherapists Use, How Well-Informed Do They Feel, and What Are Their Wishes for Continuous Education?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-9, November.
    2. Elke Humer & Wolfgang Schimböck & Ida-Maria Kisler & Petra Schadenhofer & Christoph Pieh & Thomas Probst, 2020. "How the COVID-19 Pandemic Changes the Subjective Perception of Meaning Related to Different Areas of Life in Austrian Psychotherapists and Patients," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(22), pages 1-12, November.
    3. Teresa Peiró & Laura Lorente & María Vera, 2020. "The COVID-19 Crisis: Skills That Are Paramount to Build into Nursing Programs for Future Global Health Crisis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-14, September.

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