Bridging the Distance: A Cross-sectional Mixed-methods Evaluation of Telepsychiatry Services among Clinicians and Patients in India

Abstract Background: India has a significant mental health treatment gap due to a lack of qualified psychiatrists and geographical obstacles. Telepsychiatry has become a viable approach to increase accessibility, especially for patients who reside in rural areas. Nevertheless, there is still a dearth of research on the opinions of patients and clinicians regarding the use of telepsychiatry in Indian contexts.

Methods

A cross-sectional mixed-methods observational study was conducted in the Department of Psychiatry at a tertiary care center in Bengaluru between January and March 2026. Consecutive sampling was used to recruit patients who received telepsychiatry consultations between August and September 2025 and clinicians delivering telepsychiatry services. Quantitative data were collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed descriptively; qualitative responses underwent inductive thematic analysis.