Therapists can use HIPAA compliant emails to provide holistic support to patients with PTSD. These emails can be tailored to different psychotherapy techniques and treatment plans, allowing therapists to deliver personalized and effective interventions remotely.
What is PTSD?
The American Psychiatric Association (APA) defines posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as “a psychiatric disorder that may occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event, series of events or set of circumstances. An individual may experience this as emotionally or physically harmful or life-threatening and may affect mental, physical, social, and/or spiritual well-being.”
Also, “PTSD can occur in all people, of any ethnicity, nationality or culture, and at any age [affecting] approximately 3.5 percent of U.S. adults every year.”
PTSD treatment
The APA recommends “Both talk therapy (psychotherapy) and medication [which] provide effective evidence-based treatments for PTSD.”
More specifically, they recommend the following psychotherapeutic techniques for treating PTSD:
- Cognitive Processing Therapy
- Prolonged Exposure Therapy
- Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
- Group therapy
Additionally, a systematic review and meta-analysis on distance-delivered interventions for PTSD found that "distance-delivered interventions [like email support] led to significant within-group improvements in PTSD symptoms at post-treatment." So, although email-based interventions can be effective, providers must ensure HIPAA compliance to safeguard patients' protected health information (PHI).
Incorporating HIPAA compliant emails
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
Therapists can use HIPAA compliant emails for CPT, guiding patients in confronting distressing memories and emotions at their own pace. Additionally, the asynchronous emails provide a safe space for patients to process their experiences, challenge maladaptive thoughts, and receive timely feedback and support from their therapists.
Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE)
Providers can incorporate PE in HIPAA compliant emails to supplement in-person sessions. More specifically, these emails can document exposure exercises, like controlled exposures to trauma-related stimuli, desensitizing individuals to their triggers. Patients can also express their concerns and receive feedback through HIPAA compliant emails.
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
TF-CBT is tailored for children and adolescents and integrates trauma-sensitive interventions with cognitive behavioral techniques. So, providers can use HIPAA compliant emails to send psychoeducation materials and coping strategies to adolescents. Additionally, providers can offer parental guidance via secure emails, and continued care outside of traditional therapy sessions.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
In EMDR, “eye movements similar to those in REM sleep is recreated during a session by having the patient watch the therapist’s fingers go back and forth or by watching a light bar [causing] changes in thoughts, images, and feelings… in a less negative manner.” So, therapists can use HIPAA compliant emails to follow up on patient progress and ensure that symptoms stay reduced throughout treatment.
Group and Family Therapy
Providers can use HIPAA compliant email platforms, like Paubox, to supplement in-person group or family therapy. The emails can include psychoeducational materials to reinforce therapeutic gains outside of scheduled sessions and ultimately, improve social support for patients with PTSD.
Medication management
In conjunction with psychotherapy, medication management can help alleviate PTSD symptoms. HIPAA compliant emails allow providers and patients to communicate securely about medication adjustments. Patients can also report their symptoms, allowing providers to monitor their medication adherence remotely. For example, patients can report any side effects they may be experiencing or changes in their symptoms that may require adjusting their dosage.
Read also: What is remote patient monitoring?
FAQs
Can therapists email patients?
Yes, healthcare providers, including therapists, can use a HIPAA compliant platform, like Paubox, to email patients and protect their privacy.
What makes an emailing platform HIPAA compliant?
An emailing platform is HIPAA compliant if it includes encryption, access controls, audit controls, and secure transmission to safeguard patients’ protected health information (PHI).
Can HIPAA compliant email platforms integrate with other healthcare software?
Yes, many HIPAA compliant email platforms, like Paubox, can be integrated with electronic health record (EHR) systems and other healthcare applications.
