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Online CBT via national public service had positive outcomes for anxiety, depression

Online cognitive-behavioral therapy treatments for anxiety and depression delivered via a national public health service had moderate-to-large effect sizes among a large sample of patients, according to study findings in Psychiatric Services.

To determine the feasibility of delivering online cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) treatments for anxiety and depression via a national public health service, Nickolai Titov, PhD, of Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia, and colleagues conducted a prospective noncontrolled study of all patients who began assessment or treatment at the MindSpot Clinic from January through December 2013. Patient age ranged from 18 to 86 years, with a mean age at assessment of 36.4 ± 13 years. Study participants completed one of four online courses across 8 weeks and received support from a therapist via telephone or e-mail weekly. The final study cohort included 1,471 adults with self-reported anxiety or depression symptoms who completed a course.

From assessment to 3-month follow-up, researchers observed moderate-to-large noncontrolled effect sizes (95% CI, 0.08-2.07).

Reliable recovery ranged from 46.7% to 51.1% and deterioration ranged from 1.9% to 3.8% at posttreatment and follow-up.

Mean total therapist time was 111.8 ± 61.6 minutes per patient.

“The MindSpot Clinic produced treatment outcomes that were comparable to results from published clinical trials of [online CBT]. This model of service delivery represents an innovative method of providing accessible, low-cost, effective, and acceptable mental health services to many people who currently are not receiving care,” the researchers concluded. – by Amanda Oldt

Disclosure: Titov reports authoring and developing treatment courses used at the MindSpot Clinic but deriving no personal or financial benefit from them and receiving funding from the Australian Government to develop and provide a free national online and telephone-delivered treatment service. Please see the full study for a list of all authors’ relevant financial disclosures.