Video Consultations Combined with ERM for Relapse Prevention, Targeting Patients with Severe Mental Illness in Community Mental Health Care Settings

Prevention of relapses in the care of patients with severe mental illness poses a significant challenge including difficulties with treatment adherence. A more frequent contact between patients and mental health professionals has the potential to positively affect patient stability. The aim of this feasibility study was to explore the perspectives and experiences of patients and mental health professionals on the combination of video consultations and relapse prevention using the early recognition method strategy. Eight patients with severe mental illness and six mental health professionals from two Community Mental Health Care centres in the Region of Southern Denmark were interviewed using semi-structured interviews with open-ended questions. The interviews were analysed using an inductive approach to content analysis as described by Elo and Kyngäs. The analysis resulted in three themes from the patient interviews: (1) A facilitated and expanded contact is not just a talk; (2) Personal perspectives on the optimal room for therapy and communication; (3) Focus on prevention empowers action, and two themes from interviews with Mental Health Professionals (1) An expanded treatment approach; and (2) A more nuanced view of perspective on using VC. The paper concludes that combining video consultations with the Early Recognition Method adds flexibility to treatment and meeting the patients need, although its use may present challenges, such as scepticism among the MHPs, the level of familiarity with using VC among the patients, and technical challenges. Given increasing patient loads, this combination is a suitable addition to treatment.