Psychiatry, technology, and the corn fields of Iowa.

This issue’s In Review section provides erudite overviews of 3 specific technologies and their current role in the field of psychiatry. Dr Rima Styra addresses the impact of the Internet—a powerful technology for accessing clinical and research information, obtaining online continuing medical education, and communicating with patients and colleagues. Dr Don Hilty and his colleagues offer a definitive review of how telepsychiatry in the form of videoconferencing can increase access to psychiatric care, particularly in remote communities with otherwise-limited health care resources. Finally, Dr John Luo focuses on the personal digital assistant (PDA) and its ability to provide information and decision support at the point of care. Aside from outlining the potential benefits of each technology, each review is also careful to cite potential limitations, such as the possible legal liabilities associated with the use of physician–patient e-mail, the dearth of cost studies within the telepsychiatry literature, and the security risks of the PDA.