Identifying Core Competencies for Remote Delivery of Psychological Interventions: A Rapid Review

Gloria A. Pedersen, Division of Global Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, D.C. (Pedersen, Kohrt); Department of Psychology, New School for Social Research, New York City (Pfeffer, Brown); Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York City (Brown); Department of Mental Health and Substance Use, World Health Organization, Geneva (Carswell, Schafer); Child Protection in Emergencies, Child Protection, Programme Division, UNICEF, New York City (Willhoite).
Kendall A. Pfeffer, Division of Global Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, D.C. (Pedersen, Kohrt); Department of Psychology, New School for Social Research, New York City (Pfeffer, Brown); Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York City (Brown); Department of Mental Health and Substance Use, World Health Organization, Geneva (Carswell, Schafer); Child Protection in Emergencies, Child Protection, Programme Division, UNICEF, New York City (Willhoite).
Adam D. Brown, Division of Global Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, D.C. (Pedersen, Kohrt); Department of Psychology, New School for Social Research, New York City (Pfeffer, Brown); Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York City (Brown); Department of Mental Health and Substance Use, World Health Organization, Geneva (Carswell, Schafer); Child Protection in Emergencies, Child Protection, Programme Division, UNICEF, New York City (Willhoite).
Kenneth Carswell, Division of Global Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, D.C. (Pedersen, Kohrt); Department of Psychology, New School for Social Research, New York City (Pfeffer, Brown); Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York City (Brown); Department of Mental Health and Substance Use, World Health Organization, Geneva (Carswell, Schafer); Child Protection in Emergencies, Child Protection, Programme Division, UNICEF, New York City (Willhoite).
Ann Willhoite, Division of Global Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, D.C. (Pedersen, Kohrt); Department of Psychology, New School for Social Research, New York City (Pfeffer, Brown); Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York City (Brown); Department of Mental Health and Substance Use, World Health Organization, Geneva (Carswell, Schafer); Child Protection in Emergencies, Child Protection, Programme Division, UNICEF, New York City (Willhoite).
Alison Schafer, Division of Global Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, D.C. (Pedersen, Kohrt); Department of Psychology, New School for Social Research, New York City (Pfeffer, Brown); Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York City (Brown); Department of Mental Health and Substance Use, World Health Organization, Geneva (Carswell, Schafer); Child Protection in Emergencies, Child Protection, Programme Division, UNICEF, New York City (Willhoite).
Brandon A. Kohrt, Division of Global Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, D.C. (Pedersen, Kohrt); Department of Psychology, New School for Social Research, New York City (Pfeffer, Brown); Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York City (Brown); Department of Mental Health and Substance Use, World Health Organization, Geneva (Carswell, Schafer); Child Protection in Emergencies, Child Protection, Programme Division, UNICEF, New York City (Willhoite).

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

12-7-2022

Journal

Psychiatric services (Washington, D.C.)

DOI

10.1176/appi.ps.202100677

Keywords

Competence; Coronavirus/COVID-19; Mental health; Psychological intervention; Research/service delivery; Telemedicine

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The COVID-19 pandemic led to a rapid shift toward remote delivery of psychological interventions and transition to voice-only and video communication platforms. However, agreement is lacking on key competencies that are aligned with equitable approaches for standardized training and supervision of remote psychological intervention delivery. A rapid review was conducted to identify and describe competencies that could inform best practices of remote services delivery during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Scopus, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO were searched for literature published in English (2015-2021) on competencies for synchronous, remote psychological interventions that can be measured through observation. RESULTS: Of 135 articles identified, 12 met inclusion criteria. Studies targeted populations in high-income countries (11 in the United States and Canada, one in Saudi Arabia) and focused on specialist practitioners, professionals, or trainees in professional or prelicensure programs working with adult populations. Ten skill categories were identified: emergency and safety protocols for remote services, facilitating communication over remote platforms, remote consent procedures, technological literacy, practitioner-client identification for remote services, confidentiality during remote services, communication skills during remote services, engagement and interpersonal skills for remote services, establishing professional boundaries during remote services, and encouraging continuity of care during remote services. CONCLUSIONS: These 10 skills domains can offer a foundation for refinement of discrete, individual-level competencies that can be aligned with global initiatives promoting use of observational competency assessment during training and supervision programs for psychological interventions. More research is needed on identification of and agreement on remote competencies and on their evaluation.

Department

Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

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