Therapist-supported Internet cognitive behavioural therapy for anxiety disorders in adults
Cochrane Systematic Review, 12 March 2016
Background: Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is an evidence‐based treatment for anxiety disorders. Many people have difficulty accessing treatment, due to a variety of obstacles. Researchers have therefore explored the possibility of using the Internet to deliver CBT; it is important to ensure the decision to promote such treatment is grounded in high quality evidence.
Authors' conclusions (briefly): Therapist‐supported ICBT appears to be an efficacious treatment for anxiety in adults. These findings suggest that therapist‐supported ICBT is more efficacious than a waiting list, attention, information, or online discussion group only control, and that there may not be a significant difference in outcome between unguided CBT and therapist‐supported ICBT; however, this latter finding must be interpreted with caution due to imprecision. The evidence suggests that therapist‐supported ICBT may not be significantly different from face‐to‐face CBT in reducing anxiety.