Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, Vol 17(8), Nov 2025, 1593-1596; doi:10.1037/tra0002028
Background: Over the last few decades, a conundrum has emerged in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) research. Several evidence-based psychotherapies (EBPs) have been regularly regarded as first-line treatments for PTSD. However, many treatment seekers have difficulties initiating and completing EBPs. Common barriers to care include limited access to adequately trained clinicians and competing practical demands (e.g., work and/or childcare). Key Arguments: One way to improve EBP completion rates without undermining treatment efficacy has been to deliver EBPs in a massed format. However, given the relative novelty of the model, massed EBPs remain difficult for many patients to access in person. Telehealth has emerged as a viable alternative to in-person treatment that improves access without eroding treatment efficacy. In the United States, access to telehealth has improved as organizations representing mental health professions have greatly expanded the number of states participating in interjurisdictional compacts that allow licensed professionals to provide telehealth across state lines. This expansion allows for increased access to massed EBPs, which should also encourage further research on the implementation of massed treatment across state lines via telehealth, as well as provider and patient attitudes toward adoption. Discussion: By expanding telehealth access across state lines, patients seeking EBPs for PTSD will have an expanded menu of options for their care. Conclusion: In the United States, compacts are transforming the mental health landscape by removing jurisdictional boundaries and facilitating the supply of psychological services to underresourced areas. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)