Internet-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Research Articles

Clinical effectiveness of internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia in routine secondary care: results of a randomized controlled trial

IntroductionDelivering cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia over the internet bears the advantage of accessibility and uptake to many patients suffering from chronic insomnia. In the current study, we aimed to investigate the effectiveness of internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (iCBT-I) in routine care.Materials and methodsWe conducted a two-arm non-blinded randomized controlled trial with care as usual (CAU) as a control condition. Participants were recruited in a specialized outpatient sleep medicine department. Both arms had access to other healthcare resources, and the intervention group had access to the iCBT-I program for 2 months. The primary outcome was insomnia severity, measured by the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). Secondary outcomes were fatigue severity, daytime sleepiness, affective symptoms, dysfunctional beliefs and attitudes about sleep, sleep locus of control, sleep hygiene, sleep efficiency (SE), sleep onset latency, wake time after sleep onset (WASO), and total sleep time (TST). Linear mixed models for repeated measures were used to analyze the longitudinal data at baseline, post-treatment, and after 3 months of follow-up. The trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04300218 21.04.2020).ResultsThe results showed a significant time*group interaction effect (p = 0.001) at post-treatment with between-group effect size (d = 0.51), indicating that the ISI decreased by a score of 3.8-fold in the iCBT-I group than in the CAU group. There was no significant difference in ISI between groups at follow-up. Regarding secondary outcomes, dysfunctional beliefs about sleep, SE, and WASO decreased significantly during treatment in the intervention group with between-group effect sizes d = 0.35, d = −0.51, and d = 0.47, respectively. At the follow-up, between-group effects on DBAS and SE remained significant: d = 0.36 and d = −0.63, respectively. For TST, we observed a significant time*group effect of d = −0.38 only after follow-up.ConclusionOur findings suggest that iCBT-I has a significant effect on insomnia severity at post-treatment compared to CAU. iCBT-I further improved dysfunctional beliefs about sleep and improved subjective sleep characteristics, such as SE, WASO, and TST during 3 months after treatment.Clinical trial registrationwww.clinicaltrials.gov, identifier (NCT04300218).

Efficacy of Internet-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Hong Kong University Students: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Purpose: This study examined the efficacy of a 10-week internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT) program “REST Online” for Hong Kong university students with mild to moderate levels of psychological distress. Method: A total of 206 Hong Kong university students were randomized into: (1) web-based and (2) app-based iCBT, and (3) waitlist control (WLC) groups. Results: Compared with the WLC group, the participants in the two iCBT groups showed a significant reduction in psychological distress, depression and anxiety symptoms, and negative thoughts and emotions, and significant increase in positive thoughts and emotions, with medium to large effect sizes. The positive effects were sustained at the 3-month follow-up test. No significant intervention effects were found between the two iCBT groups except for anxiety symptoms. Discussion: The findings were discussed in terms of program design and service delivery, and suggestions for delivering digital mental health service in Hong Kong universities were proposed.

Economic evaluation of Be a Mom, a web-based intervention to prevent postpartum depression in high-risk women alongside a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundPostpartum depression (PPD) poses significant challenges, affecting both mothers and children, with substantial societal and economic implications. Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy interventions (iCBT) offer promise in addressing PPD, but their economic impact remains unexplored. This study aimed to evaluate the cost-utility of Be a Mom, a self-guided iCBT intervention, compared with a waiting-list control among postpartum women at high risk of PPD. MethodsThis economic evaluation was conducted alongside a 14-month randomized controlled trial adopting a societal perspective. Participants were randomized to Be a Mom (n = 542) or a waitlisted control group (n = 511). Self-report data on healthcare utilization, productivity losses, and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) were collected at baseline, post-intervention, and 4 and 12 months post-intervention. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) were calculated, and cost-effectiveness acceptability curves were generated using nonparametric bootstrapping. Sensitivity analyses were conducted to assess result robustness. ResultsOver 14 months, Be a Mom generated a QALY gain of 0.0184 (0.0022, 0.0346), and cost savings of EUR 34.06 (−176.16, 108.04) compared to the control group. At a willingness to pay of EUR 20,000, Be a Mom had a 97.6 % probability of cost-effectiveness. LimitationsResults have limitations due to self-selected sample, potential recall bias in self-reporting, missing data, limited follow-up, and the use of a waiting-list control group. ConclusionsThis study addresses a critical gap by providing evidence on the cost-utility of an iCBT intervention tailored for PPD prevention. Further research is essential to identify scalable and cost-effective interventions for reducing the burden of PPD.

The effectiveness of using cognitive behavioral therapy and internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy interventions on relapse prevention and severity of symptoms among patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials

Purpose This study aims to evaluate and summarize the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and internet-based CBT (ICBT) interventions on relapse prevention and severity of symptoms among individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD). CBT is one of the most used and suggested interventions to manage MDD, whereas ICBT is a novel effective proposed approach. Design/methodology/approach The review was conducted following the preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis protocol. A comprehensive and extensive search was performed to identify and evaluate the relevant studies about the effectiveness of CBT and ICBT on relapse prevention and severity of symptoms among patients with MDD. Findings A total of eight research studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in this systematic review. RCT studies were conducted to assess and evaluate the effectiveness of CBT and ICBT on relapse prevention and severity of symptoms among patients with MDD. It has been found that CBT is a well-supported and evidently based effective psychotherapy for managing depressive symptoms and reducing the relapse and readmission rate among patients diagnosed with MDD. The ICBT demonstrated greater improvements in depressive symptoms during major depressive episodes among patients with MDDS. The ICBT program had good acceptability and satisfaction among participants in different countries. Research limitations/implications Despite the significant findings from this systematic review, certain limitations should be acknowledged. First, it is important to note that all the studies included in this review were exclusively conducted in the English language, potentially limiting the generalizability of the findings to non-English speaking populations. Second, the number of research studies incorporated in this systematic review was relatively limited, which may have resulted in a narrower scope of analysis. Finally, a few studies within the selected research had small sample sizes, which could potentially impact the precision and reliability of the overall conclusions drawn from this review. The authors recommend that nurses working in psychiatric units should use CBT interventions with patients with MDD. Practical implications This paper, a review of the literature gives an overview of CBT and ICBT interventions to reduce the severity of depressive symptoms and prevent patients’ relapse and rehospitalization and shows that CBT interventions are effective on relapse prevention among patients with MDD. In addition, there is still no standardized protocol to apply the CBT intervention in the scope of reducing the severity of depressive symptoms and preventing depression relapse among patients with major depressive disorder. Further research is needed to confirm the findings of this review. Future research is also needed to find out the most effective form and contents of CBT and ICBT interventions for MDD. Social implications CBT is a psychological intervention that has been recommended by the literature for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD). It is a widely recognized and accepted approach that combines cognitive and behavioral techniques to assist individuals overcome their depressive symptoms and improve their overall mental well-being. This would speculate that effectiveness associated with several aspects and combinations of different approaches in CBT interventions and the impact of different delivery models are essential for clinical practice and appropriate selection of the interventional combinations. Originality/value This systematic review focuses on the various studies that explore the effectiveness of face-to-face CBT and ICBT in reducing depressive symptoms among patients with major depressive disorder. These studies were conducted in different countries such as Iran, Australia, Pennsylvania and the USA.

A pilot feasibility and acceptability trial of an internet indicated prevention program for perfectionism to reduce eating disorder symptoms in adolescents

PurposePerfectionism is a transdiagnostic risk factor for eating disorders. Treating perfectionism can reduce symptoms of eating disorders. No research has examined an indicated prevention trial using internet-based Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy for Perfectionism (ICBT-P) in adolescent girls at elevated risk for eating disorders. Our aim was to conduct a preliminary feasibility trial using a co-designed ICBT-P intervention. It was hypothesised that a higher proportion of participants in the ICBT-P condition would achieve reliable and clinically significant change on perfectionism, eating disorders, anxiety and depression, compared to waitlist control.MethodsTwenty-one adolescent girls with elevated symptoms of eating disorders (M age = 16.14 years) were randomised to a 4-week online feasibility trial of a co-designed ICBT-P prevention program or waitlist control. Qualitative surveys were used to gain participant perspectives.ResultsThe ICBT-P condition had a higher proportion of participants achieve reliable change and classified as recovered on perfectionism and symptoms of eating disorders and anxiety, compared to waitlist control. Qualitative findings indicated that 100% of participants found the program helpful.ConclusionThe results indicate ICBT-P is a feasible and acceptable program for adolescent girls with elevated eating disorder symptoms. Future research is required to examine outcomes in a randomised controlled trial.Level of evidenceLevel III: Evidence obtained from well-designed cohort or case–control analytic studies.Trial registration numberThis trial was prospectively registered with Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12620000951954P) on 23/09/2020.

Interpersonal factors in internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy for depression: Attachment style and alliance with the program and with the therapist

Objective This open-trial study examined effects of a culturally-adapted Hebrew version of guided internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy (ICBT) for depression. We examined therapeutic alliance with the therapist and with the programme (content) as potential predictors of outcomes. Furthermore, we examined whether anxious and avoidant attachment styles improved, although relationships were not the focus of treatment. Method: We examined alliance with therapist and alliance with programme and their time-lagged (1 week), longitudinal relationship with depression outcomes, and change in anxious and avoidant attachment during treatment. Results: Depression and insomnia improved significantly (Cohen’s d: depression = 1.34, insomnia = 0.86), though dropout was relatively high (49%). Alliance with programme and with the therapist predicted adherence and dropout, whereas only alliance with therapist predicted symptom improvement. Avoidant attachment decreased over treatment whereas anxious attachment did not. Conclusion: A culturally-adapted version of ICBT for depression showed that alliance with therapist and alliance with programme both can play an important role in its effectiveness: alliance with programme and the therapist drive adherence and dropout and alliance with therapist is related to symptom improvement. Although the focus of treatment is not interpersonal, avoidant attachment style can improve following ICBT.

INTERNET-BASED COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY FOR SOMATIC SYMPTOM DISORDER

Introduction – Somatic symptom disorder (SSD), before known as somatoform disorder (SD), is characterized by a preoccupation that is nondelusional and general with fears of having, or the idea that the body has a serious disease based on his or her misinterpretation of bodily symptoms in six or more months. In SSD management there is a multifaceted approach that is tailored to each patient. Psychological interventions specifically cognitive behavioral therapy reported can improve the symptoms and reduce the healthcare cost significantly. Internet-delivered cognitive behavior therapy (ICBT) has an accepted evidence base for a range of psychiatric problems, especially for SSD treatment also has been suggested as one possible approach that could adapted to this situation. Methods – In this article, researchers used the review method by collecting several kinds of literature from 2011-2021 that discuss somatic symptom disorder, cognitive behavioral therapy, and internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy for somatic symptom disorder. Results – A referral system for patients with SSD to a mental health expert is needed if they do not find any progress when handled by the physician in primary care. Proven therapies for SSD such as CBT and mindfulness-based therapy. ICBT was approved and increased usage within the pandemic of COVID-19 and brought some highly standardized courses consistent across patients. Discuss – The effectiveness of ICBT has been evaluated in the management of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), depression, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), adjustment disorder, chronic pain, bipolar disorder, and phobias. CBT in multicenter randomized controlled trials reported effectiveness in the treatment of SSD and medically unexplained symptoms, “Health anxious” patients get over two years of sustained symptomatic benefit, without any different impact on total costs, and also decreased the physical symptoms, disability, and psychological distress. Conclusion – Internet-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (ICBT) can be highly effective in the treatment of somatic symptom disorder (SSD). ICBT can provided in therapist-guided, unguided, or as a bibliotherapy. This tool is already recommended as a treatment of choice during the pandemic. Although wider RCT on the use of ICBT in clinical practice, particularly in SSD therapy, with a variety of demographic characteristics to provide additional evidence of the effectiveness of this technique, as well as increased awareness among clinicians and the general public. Keywords: SSD, somatic, CBT.

The Relationship between Level of Therapist Support and Efficacy and Adherence in Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Disordered Eating Behaviors

Background: Therapist support is an important intervention design factor in internet-delivered psychotherapy. However, the relationship between therapist support and intervention outcomes is not well established. This study examined the relationship between therapist support, efficacy, and adherence to Internet-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (I-CBT) for disordered eating behaviors.Methods: Thirty-six women with disordered eating behaviors were recruited and randomly assigned to three groups: low, medium, and high levels of therapist support. The participants received eight sessions of I-CBT, twice a week, with varying levels of therapist support.Results: While all three groups showed a reduction in eating disorder risk factors (i.e., body image disturbance, disordered eating behaviors, depression, and anxiety), there were no significant differences in these improvements by therapist support level. However, there were significant differences in intervention completion rates by therapist support level, with higher levels of support associated with increased intervention completion rates.Conclusions: Therapist support can potentially improve adherence to internet-based interventions.

The Effects of an Internet-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Program on Depression in Thai High School Students: A Quasiexperimental Study

Adolescents with depression often experience negative automatic thoughts, which contribute to the development of suicidal ideation. Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy has now become a treatment to address negative automatic thoughts to prevent suicide. This quasi-experimental study aimed to assess the effects of an Internet-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Program on the depression of Thai adolescents. The participants consisted of 60 adolescent students with a deviation from their usual mood who were enrolled in public high schools in a province adjacent to Bangkok. The participants were conveniently selected, paired based on gender and grade point average, and randomly assigned into two groups. The experimental group received the program, while the control group received usual care (n = 30 each). Data collection instruments included a personal data form and the Healthrelated Self-report Scale. One-way repeated measures ANCOVA was used to compare the mean depression scores between the two groups while controlling for baseline depression scores. The results indicate that the participants’ depression scores decreased over time in both groups. However, a significant group effect suggests that being in the experimental group was associated with a greater decrease in depression scores both immediately after the intervention and at the two-week follow-up compared to the control group. These findings shed light on the potential benefits of implementing this Internet-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Program by school nurses, teachers, or primary care nurses to prevent extreme depression and suicidal ideation among adolescents. Further investigation with longer follow-up is recommended.

Feasibility of Guided Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Panic Disorder and Social Anxiety Disorder in Japan: Pilot Single-Arm Trial.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is effective in treating anxiety disorders. Accessibility to CBT has been limited in Japan due to the shortage of therapists. While an open-source e-learning system can be used to create a simple internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (ICBT) program, the safety and outpatient acceptance of this treatment approach have not been explored in Japan. The aim of this study was to investigate whether outpatients with anxiety disorders could accept and successfully complete the ICBT program with guidance by CBT therapists when implementing therapeutic modules and CBT tasks. Due to being in the initial phase of a novel treatment in Japan, this study was intended for verification with a small sample size. In total, 6 adults, including 4 male participants and 2 female participants, were enrolled in a single-arm trial. The intervention involved guided ICBT comprising 12 sessions, including CBT text, comprehension confirmation tests, and explanatory videos about cognitive behavioral models, accessible through a website. The therapist guided the participants in accessing the ICBT program and answering their questions using a chat tool. The primary outcome was anxiety severity assessed using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-Trait. Secondary outcomes included the Panic Disorder Severity Scale, Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, and Working Alliance Inventory-Short Form (WAI-SF). Statistical analyses were performed using paired 2-tailed t tests to assess the changes in clinical symptoms. The total WAI-SF score at the final session was used to evaluate the therapeutic alliance. For statistical analyses, mean changes for total State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-Trait, BAI, Panic Disorder Severity Scale, LSAS, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 scores were analyzed using the paired 2-tailed t test. The 2-sided significance level for hypothesis testing was set at 5%, and 2-sided 95% CIs were calculated. Most participants diligently engaged with the ICBT program. No adverse events were reported. The mean total scores for the primary outcome decreased by 11.0 (SD 9.6) points (95% CI -22.2 to 0.20; Hedges g=0.95), but it was not statistically significant. The mean total scores for the secondary outcomes that assess clinical symptoms decreased, with a significant reduction observed in the BAI of 15.7 (SD 12.1) points (95% CI -28.4 to -3.0; P=.03; Hedges g=1.24). The mean total scores for PDSS and LSAS decreased significantly, by 12.0 (SD 4.24) points (95% CI -50.1 to 26.1; P=.16; Hedges g=1.79) and 32.4 (SD 11.1) points (95% CI -59.7 to -4.3; P=.04; Hedges g=1.38), respectively. Of the participants, 67% (n=4) showed treatment response, and 50% (n=3) achieved remission after the intervention. The therapeutic alliance, measured using the WAI-SF, was moderate. Guided ICBT may be feasible for the treatment of outpatients with panic disorder and social anxiety disorder in Japan. University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry UMIN0000038118; https://center6.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000043439.

The genetic architecture of youth anxiety: a study protocol

BackgroundAnxiety disorders are the most common psychiatric problems among Canadian youth and typically have an onset in childhood or adolescence. They are characterized by high rates of relapse and chronicity, often resulting in substantial impairment across the lifespan. Genetic factors play an important role in the vulnerability toward anxiety disorders. However, genetic contribution to anxiety in youth is not well understood and can change across developmental stages. Large-scale genetic studies of youth are needed with detailed assessments of symptoms of anxiety disorders and their major comorbidities to inform early intervention or preventative strategies and suggest novel targets for therapeutics and personalization of care.MethodsThe Genetic Architecture of Youth Anxiety (GAYA) study is a Pan-Canadian effort of clinical and genetic experts with specific recruitment sites in Calgary, Halifax, Hamilton, Toronto, and Vancouver. Youth aged 10–19 (n = 13,000) will be recruited from both clinical and community settings and will provide saliva samples, complete online questionnaires on demographics, symptoms of mental health concerns, and behavioural inhibition, and complete neurocognitive tasks. A subset of youth will be offered access to a self-managed Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy resource. Analyses will focus on the identification of novel genetic risk loci for anxiety disorders in youth and assess how much of the genetic risk for anxiety disorders is unique or shared across the life span.DiscussionResults will substantially inform early intervention or preventative strategies and suggest novel targets for therapeutics and personalization of care. Given that the GAYA study will be the biggest genomic study of anxiety disorders in youth in Canada, this project will further foster collaborations nationally and across the world.

Patient and Therapist Perceptions of a Publicly Funded Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (iCBT) Program for Ontario Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Qualitative Study.

To address the anticipated rise in mental health symptoms experienced at the population level during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ontario government provided 2 therapist-assisted internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT) programs to adults free of charge at the point of service. The study aims to explore the facilitators of and barriers to implementing iCBT at the population level in Ontario, Canada, from the perspective of patients and therapists to better understand how therapist-assisted iCBT programs can be effectively implemented at the population level and inform strategies for enhancing service delivery and integration into the health care system. Using a convenience sampling methodology, semistructured interviews were conducted with 10 therapists who delivered iCBT and 20 patients who received iCBT through either of the publicly funded programs to explore their perspectives of the program. Interview data were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis to generate themes. Six salient themes were identified. Facilitators included the therapist-assisted nature of the program; the ease of registration and the lack of cost; and the feasibility of completing the psychoeducational modules given the online and self-paced nature of the program. Barriers included challenges with the online remote modality for developing the therapeutic alliance; the program's generalized nature, which limited customization to individual needs; and a lack of formal integration between the iCBT program and the health care system. Although the program was generally well-received by patients and therapists due to its accessibility and feasibility, the digital format of the program presented both benefits and unique challenges. Strategies for improving the quality of service delivery include opportunities for synchronous communication between therapists and patients, options for increased customization, and the formal integration of iCBT into a broader stepped-care model that centralizes patient referrals between care providers and promotes continuity of care.

Nonuse of Blended Web-Based and Face-To-Face Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Alcohol Use Disorder: Qualitative Study.

The use of digital technologies for health care has been the focus of social studies, which have concentrated on the digital divide between individuals who use technology and those who do not-with the latter often being considered as individuals with shortcomings. In Denmark, 91% of the population have computers and 97 out of 100 families have internet access, indicating that lack of access to technology is not the primary reason for nonuse. Although previous studies have primarily focused on participants' perspectives of using internet-based treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD), no study has investigated individuals' reasons to prefer face-to-face treatment over blended face-to-face and internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (bCBT) for AUD among treatment-seeking populations. The aim of this qualitative study was to investigate the nonuse of bCBT among patients with AUD. Specifically, this study aims to explore patients' reasons for choosing not to receive treatment via this format. This study was conducted among Danish patients with AUD who were enrolled in the study "Blending internet treatment into conventional face-to-face treatment for alcohol use disorder (Blend-A)" but had not used bCBT. The participant group consisted of 11 patients with AUD: 3 women and 8 men. The age range of the participants was 29-78 years (mean 59 years). Individual semistructured interviews were conducted using cell phones to gather participants' reasons for not choosing bCBT. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using thematic analysis. Five authors performed the analysis in 3 steps: (1) two authors read the transcripts and coded themes from their immediate impression of the material, (2) one author provided feedback, which was used to group overlapping themes together or create new themes that better reflected the content, and (3) the remaining two authors provided feedback on the analysis to improve its structure, readability, and relevance to the research aim. We found that the participants had various reasons for choosing face-to-face treatment over bCBT; these reasons were more related to personal matters and lesser to digital health literacy. We identified 4 themes related to personal matters for choosing face-to-face treatment over bCBT: (1) patients' need for attending sessions in person, (2) preference for verbal communication, (3) desire for immediate feedback, and (4) feeling more empowered and motivated with face-to-face sessions. This study provides valuable insight into participants' perspectives on blended therapy for AUD and highlights the importance of considering personal factors when designing digital health interventions. Our study indicates that most of the participants choose not to use bCBT for AUD because they perceive such treatment formats as impersonal. Instead, they prefer direct communication with the therapist, including the ability to express and comprehend facial expressions and body language. RR2-10.1186/s12888-021-03122-4.

Enhancing Nutritional Status and Quality of Life in Hemodialysis Patients: The Impact of Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

This study examined the effects of internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy on the nutritional status and scores from the Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice questionnaire in maintenance hemodialysis patients. Patients in the traditional therapy group received standard health education, whereas those in the experimental group participated in three months of this therapy. Clinical and nutritional indicators, including blood biomarkers and Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice questionnaire scores, were recorded for both groups before and after the treatment. Post-treatment, the group receiving internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy exhibited higher blood calcium levels, increased upper arm circumference, and reduced levels of potassium and phosphorus. They also showed comparatively lower scores in Nutritional Risk Screening 2000 and Malnutrition Inflammation, along with higher Visual Analog Scale scores (P < 0.05). The internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy group exhibited higher albumin and prealbumin levels, reduced transferrin, total cholesterol, creatinine, and urea levels, and modified quantitative subjective global assessment scores than the traditional therapy group (P < 0.05). They also scored higher on the Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice questionnaire (P < 0.05). These results indicate that internetbased cognitive behavioral therapy can improve the nutritional status, Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice questionnaire scores, and overall quality of life in maintenance hemodialysis patients, highlighting its potential benefit in patient outcomes.

Long-term effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of guided internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder: 24-month follow-up

This study investigated the long-term effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of guided internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (ICBT) for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Twenty-five patients with OCD who had undergone guided ICBT in a randomized controlled trial or a single-arm trial were followed up for 6, 12, and 24 months. Missing data were imputed using the mice package in R, and a one-way analysis of variance with repeated measures was performed. The total Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) score significantly decreased from baseline to all endpoints (p < 0.001). OCD remission (the total Y-BOCS score < 14) rates significantly increased from post-treatment (48 %) at the 12 months (80 %) and 24 months (76 %) follow-up (χ2 (1) = 7.11–11.08, p < 0.01) post guided ICBT. Regression analysis predicted the maintenance of remission at 12 and 24 months following post-treatment remission (z = 2.20, p = 0.03). An incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was calculated to assess the cost-effectiveness of guided ICBT. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was JPY 999,495, below the JPY 5 million threshold for willingness to pay in Japan. Our findings demonstrate the long-term effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of guided ICBT for OCD. Guided ICBT can mitigate the severity of OCD even after treatment.

Efficacy of internet-based self-help cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) in reducing insomnia symptoms among adults with sub-threshold insomnia symptoms: a randomized controlled trial

Efficacy of internet-based self-help cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) in reducing insomnia symptoms among adults with sub-threshold insomnia symptoms: a randomized controlled trial

Implementing internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy (moodgym) for African students with symptoms of low mood during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative feasibilty study.

Online therapies have been shown to be effective in improving students' mental health. They are cost-effective and therefore have particular advantages in low-income countries like Zambia where mental health resources are limited. This study aimed to explore the perceived impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the feasibility of implementing an Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (iCBT) intervention ('moodgym') to improve resilience in vulnerable Zambian students. The study was a qualitative interview study. Participants identifying as having symptoms of low mood and completing a baseline, online survey (n = 620) had the option to volunteer for a semi-structured interview to explore views about their experience of the pandemic and the acceptability and perceived benefits and limitations of using moodgym. A total of 50 students (n = 24 female, n = 26 male) participated in the study. One theme with 4 sub-themes, captured the severe emotional and social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. A second, very strong theme, with 5 sub-themes, reflected the considerable negative effects of the pandemic on the students' educational experience. This included the challenges of online learning. The third theme, with three subthemes, captured the benefits and acceptability of moodgym, particularly in terms of understanding the relationship between thoughts and feelings and improving academic performance. The fourth theme described the technical difficulties experienced by students in attempting to use moodgym. COVID-19 caused fear and impacted wellbeing in vulnerable students and severely impaired the quality of students' educational experience. The findings suggest that moodgym might be a valuable support to students in a low-income country.

Can Emotional Working Memory Training Improve Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Outcomes for Social Anxiety Disorder: A Pilot Study.

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) models highlight maladaptive attention as a maintaining factor of SAD, potentially negatively impacting how individuals with SAD engage with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) content in a therapist's presence. Emotional working memory training (eWMT) has been shown to improve affective attentional control. This pilot study assessed the proposed methodology for a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to determine whether eWMT, by improving attentional control prior to internet-based CBT (iCBT), results in better CBT outcomes. The RCT would be considered feasible if the pilot study achieved rates ≥80% for eligible participants recruited, study measures completion, intervention completion, and participant retention. Results from 10 randomized participants showed rates ≥80% for recruitment of eligible participants and iCBT intervention completion. Completion of study measures, eWMT and Placebo training interventions, and participant retention were <80%. Results highlight the need to consider strategies to improve the methodology prior to the RCT.

Predictors of nonresponse to treatment and low adherence to internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy in depressed/anxious women facing the couple’s fertility problems: a secondary analysis of a randomized control trial

BackgroundThe study aimed to examine the predictors of treatment nonresponse and low adherence to Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy and face-to-face therapy for treating depression and anxiety in women facing the couple’s fertility problems.MethodsThis is a secondary analysis based on a previous randomized controlled trial including 152 depressed/anxious women facing the couple’s fertility problems. The study defines low adherence as receiving less than 4 sessions (out of 8 sessions). Nonresponse to treatment refers to a < 50% reduction in the anxiety and depression total scores.ResultsA high level of anxiety/depression score before psychotherapy increases the risk of nonresponse to both Internet-based and face-to-face psychotherapies by 1.4 to 2 times in women facing the couple’s fertility problems after the treatment and in the 6-month follow-up. However, 4 factors, including diagnosis of mixed anxiety and depression, low education level, long marriage duration, and infertility caused by mixed female/male factors, reduced the risk of nonresponse to psychotherapies.ConclusionWomen facing the couple’s fertility problems with high depression and anxiety scores are at risk of poor prognosis in response to psychotherapy. Psychologists and healthcare providers of infertility centers should pay more attention to the timely identification and referral of depressed/anxious patients to psychologists.

Delivery of internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy combined with human-delivered telepsychology in tinnitus sufferers through a chatbot-based mobile app

BackgroundWhile there is no cure for tinnitus, research has shown that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is effective in managing clinical sequelae. Although traditional CBT is labor-intensive and costly, new online consultations may improve accessibility. Moreover, there is promise in an engaging conversational agent, or a “chatbot,” delivering CBT in a conversation-like manner and allowing users to work through complex situations with the guidance of a virtual coach. Currently, there is little research examining a possible hybrid model using iCBT and tele consultation with a psychologist.MethodsA randomized, 2 parallel-group trial was conducted to compare the clinical effectiveness of (1) iCBT delivered through a chatbot mobile app (i.e., Tinnibot only group) (2) Tinnibot combined with telepsychology (i.e., hybrid-intervention group). A total of 30 eligible adults with tinnitus were included. After an 8-week intervention period, participants were followed up for 2 months. The primary outcome measure, the Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI), and the secondary outcome measures, Hyperacusis Questionnaire (HQ), Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7), and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), were assessed before treatment, post-treatment, and at follow-up.ResultsThe TFI decreased significantly over time in both groups, with a trend for a larger improvement in the group that received telepsychology. At post-treatment, a clinically significant improvement was observed in 42% of the Tinnibot-only group and 64% of the hybrid-intervention group. At follow-up, this was 64% for both groups. The secondary outcome measures, PHQ-9 and GAD-7 improved significantly over time, but the HQ did not.DiscussionInternet-based delivery of CBT is effective in decreasing tinnitus distress, and levels of anxiety and depression, which is more relevant today than ever in the context of a global pandemic that has challenged the delivery of face-to-face intervention. The addition of telepsychology might be beneficial, but not essential for the effectiveness of treatment. There is a need for further research to determine whether there is any relationship between the characteristics of tinnitus patients and the success of the different modes of delivery of therapy.