Cited by 25Digital Mental Health InterventionsTelemedicine and Telehealth ImplementationAnxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes

A pragmatic factorial randomized controlled trial of transdiagnostic internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy: Exploring benefits of homework reflection questionnaires and twice-weekly therapist support

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Hadjistavropoulos, H.D., Peynenburg, V., Thiessen, D.L., Nugent, M., Adlam, K., Owens, K.M.B., Karin, E., Dear, B.F. +1 more·2020·Internet Interventions

Abstract

With the growing demand for internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy (iCBT), this pragmatic factorial (2 × 2 × 2) randomized controlled trial evaluated strategies for facilitating iCBT engagement and outcomes in routine care. Specifically, the benefits to patients and therapists of using homework reflection questionnaires and offering patients twice-weekly therapist support were examined. Patients (n = 632) accepted into iCBT for depression and/or anxiety were randomly assigned to complete homework reflection questionnaires or not (factor 1), receive once- or twice-weekly support (factor 2), and to receive care from therapists employed in one of two settings (iCBT clinic or a community mental health clinic; factor 3). Outcomes were measured at pre-treatment, and 8, 12, and 24-weeks post-enrollment. Therapist time was tracked and a focus group was conducted to examine therapist experiences. No differences in patient outcomes were found between therapists employed in the two settings; as such, these two groups were combined for further analyses. In terms of engagement, homework reflection questionnaires were associated with fewer website log-ins and days accessing iCBT; twice-weekly support was associated with more patient emails sent to therapists. Despite engagement differences, homework reflection questionnaires and twice-weekly support did not significantly impact primary outcomes; all groups showed large improvements in depression and anxiety that were maintained at 24-week follow-up. Therapists perceived a number of benefits and challenges associated with responding to homework reflection questionnaires and offering twice-weekly support; most notably the strategies did not benefit all patients. Twice-weekly support was associated with increased therapist time and organizational challenges. It is concluded that neither completion of homework questionnaires nor offering twice-weekly support significantly improve iCBT in routine care.

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Authors
Hadjistavropoulos, H. D., Peynenburg, V., Thiessen, D. L., Nugent, M., Adlam, K., Owens, K. M. B., Karin, E., Dear, B. F., & Titov, N.
Affiliations
  • University of Regina (CA)
  • Saskatchewan Health Authority (CA)
  • Macquarie University (AU)
Corresponding author
Hadjistavropoulos, H.D.
Venue
Internet Interventions
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2020-12
Volume
22
Pages
100357
ISSN
2214-7829 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W3109502355
Cited by
25
References
59
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 3
FWCI
3.62
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Internet Interventions (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Digital Mental Health Interventions
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Telemedicine and Telehealth Implementation
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
Keywords
internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy, transdiagnostic treatment, depression, anxiety, treatment engagement, community mental health centers, usual care, therapist experience

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