Abstract

Background: Internet-delivered Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (i-CBT) offers potential as an alternative, accessible, clinically and cost-effective treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but little is known about its acceptability.

Objective: To review the available evidence to understand the acceptability of i-CBT for PTSD.

Method: We undertook a mixed-methods systematic review according to Cochrane Collaboration Guidelines, of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of i-CBT for adults with PTSD. We examined included studies for measures of acceptability, and possible proxy indicators of acceptability, including dropout rates, which were meta-analysed as risk ratios (RRs).

Results: Ten studies with 720 participants were included. We found i-CBT to be acceptable according to specific acceptability measures, and suggestions for acceptability according to some proxy measures of i-CBT programme usage. There was, however, evidence of greater dropout from i-CBT than waitlist (RR 1.39, CI 1.03–1.88; 8 studies; participants = 585) and no evidence of a difference in dropout between i-CBT and i-non-CBT (RR 2.14, CI 0.97–4.73; participants = 132; 2 studies).

Conclusion: i-CBT appears a potentially acceptable intervention for adults with PTSD. We identified clinical and research questions, including the status of proxy indicators, and call for standardised, consistent treatment acceptability measurement.

Details

Title
Acceptability of internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy (i-CBT) for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): a systematic review
Author
Simon, Natalie 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; McGillivray, Leah 1 ; Roberts, Neil P 2   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Barawi, Kali 1 ; Lewis, Catrin E 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Bisson, Jonathan I 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo 

1  Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, UK 
2  Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, UK; Psychology and Psychological Therapies Directorate, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, Cardiff, UK 
Publication year
2019
Publication date
2019
Publisher
Taylor & Francis Ltd.
e-ISSN
20008066
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2019.1646092
ProQuest document ID
2351040177
Copyright
© 2019 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons  Attribution – Non-Commercial License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.