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Cited by 183Digital Mental Health InterventionsAnxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive ProcessesHealth Systems, Economic Evaluations, Quality of Life

Cost-effectiveness of Internet-based cognitive behavior therapy vs. cognitive behavioral group therapy for social anxiety disorder: Results from a randomized controlled trial

Hedman, Erik, Andersson, Erik, Ljótsson, Brjánn, Andersson, Gerhard, Rück, Christian, Lindefors, Nils·2011·Behaviour Research and Therapy
DOI 10.1016/j.brat.2011.07.009
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Abstract

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is highly prevalent and associated with a substantial societal economic burden, primarily due to high costs of productivity loss. Cognitive behavior group therapy (CBGT) is an effective treatment for SAD and the most established in clinical practice. Internet-based cognitive behavior therapy (ICBT) has demonstrated efficacy in several trials in recent years. No study has however investigated the cost-effectiveness of ICBT compared to CBGT from a societal perspective, i.e. an analysis where both direct and indirect costs are included. The aim of the present study was to investigate the cost-effectiveness of ICBT compared to CBGT from a societal perspective using a prospective design. We conducted a randomized controlled trial where participants with SAD were randomized to ICBT (n=64) or CBGT (n=62). Economic data were assessed at pre-treatment, immediately following treatment and six months after treatment. Results showed that the gross total costs were significantly reduced at six-month follow-up, compared to pre-treatment in both treatment conditions. As both treatments were equivalent in reducing social anxiety and gross total costs, ICBT was more cost-effective due to lower intervention costs. We conclude that ICBT can be more cost-effective than CBGT in the treatment of SAD and that both treatments reduce societal costs for SAD.

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  • Previous effective CBT interventions for health anxiety have been approximately 12 modules.

    “Previous effective CBT interventions for health anxiety have been approximately 12 modules [24,25].”

    From A Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Chatbot (Otis) for Health Anxiety Management: Mixed Methods Pilot Study (2022) · cites this paper as [25]

  • Psychological therapies have been consistently shown to be effective in helping individuals of all ages deal with distress.

    “Psychological therapies have been consistently shown as effective in helping individuals of all ages to deal with distress”

    From A review of cyberbullying and suggestions for online psychological therapy (2015) · cites this paper as Hedman et al., 2011

  • Internet-based psychological treatment is gaining momentum and showing positive effects for a range of clinical populations.

    “in recent years, internet-based psychological treatment is gaining momentum and showing positive affects for a range of clinical populations (e.g., Hedman et al., 2011;Vernmark et al., 2010)”

    From A review of cyberbullying and suggestions for online psychological therapy (2015) · cites this paper as Hedman et al., 2011

  • ICBT is cost-effective and is a means of promoting access to psychological therapies for the general public.

    “numerous studies have found ICBT to be cost-effective and to be a real means of promoting access to psychological therapies for the general public (Carlbring and Andersson, 2006;Hedman et al., 2011)”

    From A review of cyberbullying and suggestions for online psychological therapy (2015) · cites this paper as Hedman et al., 2011

  • Internet-based therapy for social phobia might be cost-effective relative to face-to-face therapy.

    “Previous research has indicated that Internet-based therapy for social phobia might be cost-effective relative to face-to-face therapy [35,36].”

    From Short-term effectiveness of web-based guided self-help for phobic outpatients: randomized controlled trial. (2014) · cites this paper as [35]

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Authors
Hedman, E., Andersson, E., Ljótsson, B., Andersson, G., Rück, C., & Lindefors, N.
Affiliations
  • Karolinska Institutet (SE)
  • Linköping University (SE)
ORCID
Venue
Behaviour Research and Therapy
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2011-11
Volume
49
Issue
11
Pages
729-736
ISSN
0005-7967 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.brat.2011.07.009
OpenAlex
W2047366764
Cited by
183
References
55
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 17 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 17 · 2014: 24 · 2013: 19 · 2012: 8
FWCI
22.71
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
Locations
  • Behaviour Research and Therapy (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
Stockholms Läns Landsting
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Digital Mental Health Interventions
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
  • Social Sciences › Economics, Econometrics and Finance › Economics and Econometrics › Health Systems, Economic Evaluations, Quality of Life
Keywords
social anxiety disorder, internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy, cost-effectiveness, social costs, productivity loss, economic burden, treatment costs
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Anxiety Disorders, Cost-Benefit Analysis, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Patient Compliance, Psychotherapy, Group, Quality of Life, Therapy, Computer-Assisted, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Health Care Costs, Internet, Patient Preference

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