Not everyone can get face-to-face consultations for treatment of depression for a wide range of reasons that include cost, convenience, transportation problems, fear, and access. A study published in JAMA in May of 2012 compared face-to-face visits with telephone consultations and found that more people could participate in telephone consultations, but that over 6 months the face-to-face visits were more effective in treating depression.
The bottom line is that one size does not fit all. It is necessary to tailor treatment to what people need and can arrange. There are a number of options for treatment that include face-to-face visits, telephone consultations, email exchanges, and now Skype interviews.
