Computer-aided CBT self-help for anxiety and depressive disorders: Experience of a London clinic and future directions

• Published in: Journal of clinical psychology Vol. 60; no. 2; pp. 147 - 157
• Main Authors: Gega, Lina, Marks, Isaac, Mataix-Cols, David
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01.02.2004; Wiley Periodicals Inc
• Subjects: Adult; Anxiety - psychology; Anxiety - therapy; Attitude to Computers; Cognitive therapy; Cognitive Therapy - instrumentation; Cognitive Therapy - methods; Computers; Depressive Disorder - psychology; Depressive Disorder - therapy; Female; Humans; Internet; London; Male; Mental depression; Mental Health Services; Middle Aged; Professional-Patient Relations; Psychology; Self Care - instrumentation; Self Care - methods; Self Care - psychology; Therapy, Computer-Assisted - instrumentation; Therapy, Computer-Assisted - methods; Treatment Outcome; User-Computer Interface; London
• ISSN: 0021-9762; 1097-4679
• DOI: 10.1002/jclp.10241

This article describes a broad‐spectrum, computer‐aided self‐help clinic that raised the throughput of anxious/depressed patients per clinician and lowered per‐patient time with a clinician without impairing effectiveness. Many sufferers improved by using one of four computer‐aided systems of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) self‐help for phobia/panic, depression, obsessive‐compulsive disorder, and general anxiety. The systems are accessible at home, two by phone and two by the Web. Initial brief screening by a clinician can be done by phone, and if patients get stuck they can obtain brief live advice from a therapist on a phone helpline. Such clinician‐extender systems offer hope for enhancing the convenience and confidentiality of guided self‐help, reducing the per‐patient cost of CBT, and lessening stigma. The case examples illustrate the clinical process and outcomes of the computer‐aided system. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol/In Session.