MODERN TOOLS FOR ENSURING ACCESSIBILITY OF MEDICAL CARE IN THE WORK OF PSYCHIATRISTS AND CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGISTS

Abstract

Introduction. The critical importance of telemedicine in Ukraine today is driven by the combination of wartime challenges, widespread psychological trauma, and limited access to specialized care. Telepsychiatry provides essential support for patients who have been forcibly displaced, live in high-risk areas, or lack the ability to visit a clinician in person. Remote consultations enable faster responses to changes in mental state, improve access to specialists, and reduce the stigma associated with seeking psychiatric support, telepsychiatry becomes one of the key instruments for ensuring psychological assistance to the population.

The aim of the study – to provide a comprehensive analysis of the role, effectiveness, and practical implementation of telemedical tools in the work of psychiatrists and clinical psychologists, and to assess their significance in ensuring continuous, accessible, and modern care within Ukraine’s healthcare system.

The main part. The article examines core telemedical solutions used in psychiatric practice, including remote clinical assessment, video consultations, digital monitoring platforms, self-tracking applications, and crisis intervention services. Special attention is given to the advantages of telepsychiatry, such as expanding access to specialized care, reducing stigma-related barriers, optimizing patient pathways, and improving adherence to treatment. The clinical aspects of telemedicine use for patients with different categories of mental disorders are explored. The article analyzes the potential for early detection of deterioration through digital tools such as regular online questionnaires, mood diaries, passive activity monitoring, and artificial intelligence–based algorithms. A separate section highlights the context of the war in Ukraine as a factor that has significantly increased the need for remote psychiatric support. Internally displaced persons, military personnel, residents of frontline territories, and individuals with chronic mental disorders often have limited opportunities for inperson consultations, making telemedicine one of the key mechanisms for supporting mental health. The article also discusses the ethical, legal, and organizational challenges of implementing telemedical interventions.

Conclusions. Telemedicine is an effective tool for expanding access to psychiatric and psychological care, ensuring continuity of treatment, and facilitating earlier detection of clinical destabilization. In the current conditions, its integration into clinical practice is a necessary step toward building a resilient, flexible, and patient-centered mental healthcare system in Ukraine.