Effects of Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Routine Care for Adults in Treatment for Depression and Anxiety: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Etzelmueller A, Vis C, Karyotaki E, Baumeister H, Titov N, Berking M, Cuijpers P, Riper H, Ebert D (2020)

Publication Type: Journal article, Review article

Publication year: 2020

Journal

Journal of Medical Internet Research Journal of Medical Internet Research / Gunther Eysenbach

Book Volume: 22

Pages Range: e18100-

Journal Issue: 8

DOI: 10.2196/18100

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Although there is evidence for the efficacy of internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT), the generalizability of results to routine care is limited. OBJECTIVE: This study systematically reviews effectiveness studies of guided iCBT interventions for the treatment of depression or anxiety. METHODS: The acceptability (uptake, participants' characteristics, adherence, and satisfaction), effectiveness, and negative effects (deterioration) of nonrandomized pre-post designs conducted under routine care conditions were synthesized using systematic review and meta-analytic approaches. RESULTS: A total of 19 studies including 30 groups were included in the analysis. Despite high heterogeneity, individual effect sizes of investigated studies indicate clinically relevant changes, with effect sizes ranging from Hedges' g=0.42-1.88, with a pooled effect of 1.78 for depression and 0.94 for anxiety studies. Uptake, participants' characteristics, adherence, and satisfaction indicate a moderate to high acceptability of the interventions. The average deterioration across studies was 2.9%. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence supporting the acceptability and effectiveness of guided iCBT for the treatment of depression and anxiety in routine care. Given the high heterogeneity between interventions and contexts, health care providers should select interventions that have been proven in randomized controlled clinical trials. The successful application of iCBT may be an effective way of increasing health care in multiple contexts.

Authors with CRIS profile

Anne Etzelmueller Lehrstuhl für Klinische Psychologie und Psychotherapie Matthias Berking Lehrstuhl für Klinische Psychologie und Psychotherapie David Ebert Lehrstuhl für Klinische Psychologie und Psychotherapie

Additional Organisation(s)

Lehrstuhl für Klinische Psychologie und Psychotherapie

Involved external institutions

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU) / University Amsterdam NL Netherlands (NL) Universität Ulm DE Germany (DE) Macquarie University AU Australia (AU)

How to cite

APA:

Etzelmueller, A., Vis, C., Karyotaki, E., Baumeister, H., Titov, N., Berking, M.,... Ebert, D. (2020). Effects of Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Routine Care for Adults in Treatment for Depression and Anxiety: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 22(8), e18100-. https://dx.doi.org/10.2196/18100

MLA:

Etzelmueller, Anne, et al. "Effects of Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Routine Care for Adults in Treatment for Depression and Anxiety: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis." Journal of Medical Internet Research 22.8 (2020): e18100-.

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