Utilization and trends in ICBT over 6 years

Full publication title:

Utilization, patient characteristics and longitudinal improvements among patients from a provincially funded transdiagnostic internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy program: Observational study of trends over six years

Authors: Hadjistavropoulos,H.D., Peynenburg, V., Thiessen, D., Nugent, M., Eyal, K., Staples, L., Dear, B., & Titov, N.

Why was the study done?

This study’s goal was to understand how ICBT has worked for people with depression and anxiety in Canada over a period of about six years. It also aimed to see how satisfied patients were with this type of therapy and if their symptoms improved over time.

What was done in the study?

Using data from participants who took an ICBT course between 2013 and 2019, we analyzed patient characteristics, engagement levels, treatment satisfaction, and how symptoms changed up to four months after treatment ended.

What did we find out?

The study found that the course was effective in reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety for patients, a finding that was consistent over the six-year period. Most patients were satisfied with the treatment, and many showed significant long-term improvement in their symptoms.

Where do we go from here?

The results suggest that ICBT courses can be valuable tools for treating depression and anxiety, especially when integrated into existing healthcare systems. Future research could focus on improving access to ICBT for different populations and understanding its impact on overall healthcare use.

Reference

Hadjistavropoulos,H.D., Peynenburg, V., Thiessen, D., Nugent, M., Eyal, K., Staples, L., Dear, B., & Titov, N. (2021). Utilization, patient characteristics and longitudinal improvements among patients from a provincially funded transdiagnostic internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy program: Observational study of trends over six years. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 1-15.  https://doi.org/10.1177/07067437211006873