Internet-based cognitive-behavioral therapy for complicated grief: a randomized controlled trial

• HIT Description: Electronic communication More info...
  
• Purpose of Study: To evaluate an Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy program for complicated grief
  
• Years of study: Not Available
  
• Study Design: Randomized controlled trial
  
• Outcomes: Impact on patient satisfaction, Impact on health care effectiveness and quality
  

• Settings: German-speaking participants from around the world.
• Intervention: Participants were randomly assigned to either the treatment group or a wait list control group. The 5 week intervention involved interaction with therapists via email for 3 phases of therapeutic and cognitive-behavioral therapy
• Evaluation Method: Patient questionnaires including the Impact of Event Scale (IES), depression and anxiety subscales of the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) and the SF-12.
• Extrinsic Factors in valuing cost and benefits: 60% of bereaved individuals use the Internet, and 50% communicate by email in order to receive social support
• Quality of Care and Patient Safety Outcome: The decrease in intrusion and avoidance symptoms in the treatment group was significantly larger than in the control group. 85% of patients rated the email contact with therapist pleasant (versus unpleasant or don't know). 82% described the therapeutic contact as personal; 85% had positive attitudes towards internet treatment. 20% missed face-to-face contact with a therapist.
• Time needed to accrue benefit: Results were measured at three months