Guided Online CBT Program May Enhance Collaborative Care for Depression, Anxiety

Incorporating a computerized cognitive-behavioral therapy (CCBT) into a collaborative care program may lead to symptom improvements in patients with depression and anxiety beyond those reported by patients receiving usual care from a primary care physician (PCP), according to astudy published today inJAMA Psychiatry. “Our report confirms the effectiveness of guided CCBT, highlights the critical importance of patient engagement with online interventions, and provides high-quality evidence about the limits and potential benefits of these emerging technologies,” wrote Bruce L. Rollman, M.D., M.P.H., of the Univ ersity of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and colleagues.The researchers recruited patients aged 18 to 75 years who were recently diagnosed with anxiety, generalized anxiety, panic, or depression from 26 primary care offices in Pittsburgh. Study participants were randomly assigned to one of three interventions for six months: (1) care manager –guided CCBT alone, (2) care manager–guided access to both CCBT and a moderated, password-protected Internet support group (CCBT+ISG), or (3) usual care under their PCP. Participants assigned to the CCBT program received an email and phone call from a care manager introducing the eight-sessionBeating the Blues CCBT program, which included text, audiovisual clips, and “homework” assignments on CBT techniques. Patients in the CCBT+ISG group were also encouraged to participate in moderated discussion boards or check ...
Source: Psychiatr News - Category: Psychiatry Tags: anxiety Bruce Rollman care manager CBT collaborative care depression internet support group JAMA Psychiatry primary care Source Type: research