Online CBT is Effective in Depression & Panic Disorders: RCT
Apr 14, 2010 - 11:58:28 AM
, Reviewed by: Dr. Himanshu Tyagi
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The new research is based on a random clinical trial of 104 patients with panic disorder and comparison of the effectiveness of internet-based CBT and group CBT within a regular healthcare service.
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Level of Evidence
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1b - Individual Randomised Control Trial
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Key Points of this article
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Internet-based CBT is most effective if it is administered as early as possible
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There was no significant difference between online and clinic treatments
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Internet-based CBT is also more cost-effective than group therapy
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Main results
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The present doctoral thesis includes a randomised clinical trial of 104 patients with panic disorder and compares the effectiveness of Internet-based CBT and group CBT within a regular healthcare service. The study shows that both treatments worked very well and that there was no significant difference between them, either immediately after treatment or at a six-month follow-up. Analyses of the results for the treatment of depression show that Internet-based CBT is most effective if it is administered as early as possible. Patients with a higher severity of depression and/or a history of more frequent depressive episodes benefited less well from the Internet treatment.
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Jan Bergström
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Jan Bergström works as a clinical psychologist at the Anxiety Disorders Unit of the Psychiatry Northwest division of the Stockholm County Council.
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| Jan Bergström Photo: Ulf Sirborn |
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Epidemiology
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It is estimated that depression affects some 15 per cent and panic disorder 4 per cent of all people during their lifetime. Depression can include a number of symptoms, such as low mood, lack of joy, guilt, lethargy, concentration difficulties, insomnia and a low zest for life. Panic disorder involves debilitating panic attacks that deter a person from entering places or situations previously associated with panic. Common symptoms include palpitations, shaking, nausea and a sense that something dangerous is about to happen (e.g. a heart attack or that one is going mad ).
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By IANS,
[RxPG] The online Cognitive Behaviour Therapy is as effective in treating panic disorder and depression as the traditional group-based method, a new study has found.
'Internet-based CBT is also more cost-effective than group therapy,' said Jan Bergstrom, a researcher with the Center for Psychiatry Research at the Swedish medical university Karolinska Institute.
'The results therefore support the introduction of internet treatment into regular psychiatry, which is also what the National Board of Health and Welfare recommends in its new guidelines for the treatment of depression and anxiety,' Bergstrom said.
It is estimated that depression affects some 15 percent and panic disorder 4 percent of all people during their lifetime.
Depression can include symptoms such as low mood, lack of joy, guilt, lethargy, concentration difficulties, insomnia and a low zest for life.
It is known from previous studies that CBT is an effective treatment for both panic disorder and depression. However, there is a lack of psychologists and psychotherapists that use CBT methods, and access to them varies greatly in Sweden as well as in many other countries. Internet-based CBT has therefore been developed, in which the patient undergoes an Internet-based self-help programme and has contact with a therapist by email.
In the internet-based CBT, the patient undergoes an online self-help counselling programme and can contact a therapist via email.
The new research is based on a random clinical trial of 104 patients with panic disorder and comparison of the effectiveness of internet-based CBT and group CBT within a regular healthcare service.
Both treatments worked very well and there was no significant difference between them, either immediately after treatment or at a six-month follow-up, the research said.
Original research article:
http://diss.kib.ki.se/2010/978-91-7409-800-6/ 
Publication:
Internet-based Treatment for Depression and Panic Disorder - From Development to Deployment; Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Centre for Psychiatry Research, Karolinska Institutet. Supervisor: Professor Nils Lindefors; co-supervisors: professors Gerhard Andersson and Per Carlbring.
On the web:
Karolinska Institutet
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| Funding information and declaration of competing interests:
This research was also financed by the Stockholm County Council.
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About Dr. Himanshu Tyagi
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This news story has been reviewed by Dr. Himanshu Tyagi before its publication on RxPG News website. Dr. Himanshu Tyagi, MBBS MRCPsych is the founder editor and manager for RxPG News. In this position he is responsible for content development and overall website and editorial management functions. His areas of special interest are psychological therapies and evidence based journalism. He can be reached for corrections and feedback at [email protected]
RxPG News is committed to promotion and implementation of Evidence Based Medical Journalism in all channels of mass media including internet.
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