ReviewFrontiers in psychiatry2019
Ethical Issues in Online Psychotherapy: A Narrative Review.
Review in Frontiers in psychiatry, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 98 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
98 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 320 citations in OpenAlex.
- Biomarkers of Response to Internet-Based Psychological Interventions: Systematic Review.Journal of medical Internet research · 2024Pooled it
- Guiding future research on psychological interventions in people with COVID-19 and post COVID syndrome and comorbid emotional disorders based on a systematic review.Frontiers in public health · 2023Pooled it
- Implementation, Adoption, and Perceptions of Telemental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Systematic Review.Journal of medical Internet research · 2021Pooled it
- Implementation of Telemental Health Services Before COVID-19: Rapid Umbrella Review of Systematic Reviews.Journal of medical Internet research · 2021Pooled it
- Effectiveness of a Web-Based Self-Guided Intervention (MINDxYOU) for Reducing Stress and Promoting Mental Health Among Health Professionals: Results From a Stepped-Wedge Cluster Randomized Trial.Journal of medical Internet research · 2025Trial
- Psychotherapeutic Competencies in Blended Care Psychotherapy: Development of a Competence Framework.JMIR mental health · 2026Article
- Therapists' Personal Identity Factors and Professional Self-Efficacy: A Path Analysis Model.Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Unified protocol in online group versus blended format for treating emotional disorders in university students: Preliminary results on feasibility at 6-month follow-up.Psychology and psychotherapy · 2026Article
- Telepsychiatry in child and adolescent mental healthcare: clinicians' perspectives on lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic.European child & adolescent psychiatry · 2026Article
- Ethical Norms, Challenges, and Associated Factors in Telemental Health: Perspectives from Psychiatric and Psychological Professionals in China.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Empowering mental health professionals in asynchronous online psychotherapy with GenAI.International journal of mental health systems · 2026Article
- "Therapy Beyond the Screen": A Qualitative Exploration of Tele-Therapy Experiences Among Clinical Psychologists and Speech and Language Therapists.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Online-delivered 'Teaching Recovery Techniques' for young people with PTSD symptoms who have experienced forced migration: a pilot study.Internet interventions · 2026Article
- Transition to online psychological support - Barriers, stereotypes and challenges from the perspective of service providers.Psychology and psychotherapy · 2026Article
- Bringing Technology to Justice-Involved Youth.Research on child and adolescent psychopathology · 2026Article
- Bioethical considerations in deploying mobile mental health apps in LMIC settings: insights from the MITHRA pilot study in rural India.Frontiers in digital health · 2026Article
- Virtual Reality Technology in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Across Multiple Psychiatric Conditions: A Narrative Literature Review.Psychology research and behavior management · 2026Review
- Understanding the Differences Between Online and Offline Mental Health Help Seekers: Cross-Sectional Comparative Study.JMIR human factors · 2025Article
- Assessing Work-Related Stressors in Online Counseling: Cross-Sectional Questionnaire Development Study.JMIR formative research · 2025Article
- Psychotherapists' Ethical Dilemmas Regarding Online and Face-to-Face Psychotherapy During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Survey Study.Journal of medical Internet research · 2025Article
38 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThe provision of psychotherapy over distance using technology is a growing market reaching many patients and therefore the risks and benefits need to be known by all psychotherapists whether they themselves practice online or not. This comprehensive review of the main ethical arguments for and against different forms of online psychotherapy aims to enhance discussion of ethical issues in this growing area.
methodsA search of three databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science) was conducted in August 2019 using a specific search protocol yielding 249 publications.
resultsOf 24 ethical arguments in favor of online psychotherapy and 32 against, the top five ethical arguments in favor of online psychotherapy were (1) increased access to psychotherapy and service availability and flexibility; (2) therapy benefits and enhanced communication; (3) advantages related to specific client characteristics (e.g. remote location); (4) convenience, satisfaction, acceptance, and increased demand; and (5) economic advantages. The top five ethical arguments against engagement in online psychotherapy were (1) privacy, confidentiality, and security issues; (2) therapist competence and need for special training; (3) communication issues specific to technology; (4) research gaps; and (5) emergency issues.
conclusionsThe findings may be of help to practitioners in deciding whether to engage in online psychotherapy, and in informing patients about risks and benefits, improving ethical guidelines, and stimulating further ethical discussion. The findings are argumentative and qualitative in nature, and further quantitative research is needed.
Indexed as
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What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.