Article
Remote CBT as Effective as In-Person Therapy for Mental Illness
Medscape Thursday, March 21, 2024 by Eve Bender
Remote cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has been shown to be just as effective as in-person CBT across a variety of mental health and somatic disorders, according to a review of over 50 randomized clinical trials (RCTs). The RCTs, involving more than 5000 patients with conditions ranging from mood and anxiety disorders to chronic pain and alcohol use disorder, found no significant difference in effectiveness between remote and in-person CBT. This suggests that therapist-guided remote CBT could help patients overcome barriers to accessing evidence-based mental healthcare, particularly in geographically large and sparsely populated countries like Canada. The study recommends increased funding to support access to therapist-guided remote CBT, potentially offering a more convenient and cost-effective alternative to traditional in-person therapy.
Key Takeaways
- Remote cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is as effective as in-person CBT across various mental health and somatic disorders.
- The review of over 50 randomized clinical trials (RCTs) involving more than 5000 patients demonstrates the comparable effectiveness of remote and in-person CBT.
- The findings suggest that therapist-guided remote CBT could help patients overcome barriers to accessing evidence-based mental healthcare, particularly in large and sparsely populated countries like Canada.
- Increased funding to support access to therapist-guided remote CBT is recommended to provide a more convenient and cost-effective alternative to traditional in-person therapy.
- The study highlights the potential policy implications of remote CBT as a means to expand access to evidence-based care, especially in regions with geographical and population-related challenges.
From the Article
"Remote cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is just as effective as in-person CBT for a range of mental health and somatic disorders, a new review of more than 50 randomized clinical trials (RCTs) showed.
The RCTs included more than 5000 patients receiving CBT for conditions such as mood, anxiety, and body dysmorphic disorders, as well as chronic pain, insomnia, and alcohol use disorder."
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