1. Is Internet Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (ICBT) an effective alternative to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
(CBT) for treating Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD)?
Jessica Short and Penny Koontz Psy. D.
Marshall University
Findings Continued
• ICBT has been supported by numerous studies to
improve cost effectiveness of SAD treatment (El Alaoui,
2015; Griffiths, 2007; Mewton, 2013; Romijn, 2015;
Tulbure, 2015).
• ICBT is most effective when guidance is provided from
a psychologist or a general practitioner (Pier, 2008).
• The long-term positive effects that have been seen with
traditional CBT is true for ICBT, however ICBT has
higher dropout rates than CBT (Brettschneidera, 2015;
Carlbring, 2009; Gajecki, 2014; Hedman, 2011;
Mewton, 2013; Mewton, 2012; Romjin, 2015; Tulbure,
2015).
• There is a link between how many modules a participant
completes to how positive the outcomes were for the
participants, however the reason why some participants
completed more modules than other participants is
uncertain (Gajecki, 2014; Mewton, 2012).
• Older SAD participants showed positive outcomes and
were more likely to complete all ICBT modules than
other SAD participants, so age does not appear to be a
limitation for the use of ICBT in this population
(Mewton, 2013).
• Substance users or alcohol users diagnosed with SAD
shown similar dropout rates as nonsubstance and alcohol
SAD participants, so substance use and alcohol use does
not effect the dropout rate of participants in ICBT
therapy (Gajecki, 2014).
• ICBT was shown to be effective in treating children and
teen populations; 20% of the children and adolescents
receiving ICBT treatment no longer met DSM-IV
criteria for a SAD diagnosis following (Vigerland,
2016).
• ICBT would be a good compliment to CBT but is not a
substitute to traditional face-to-face CBT (Hedman,
2011).
Conclusions
Despite the comparable outcomes of ICBT in
comparison to traditional CBT, it is not recommended
as a substitute for traditional CBT due to the high
dropout rates during treatment.
ICBT could be better utilized by patients during the
waitlist period or utilized concurrently with traditional
CBT treatment.
Limitations
Due to the limited research with these populations,
more research is needed with rural and Appalachian
populations.
Additionally, more research is needed to understand
why some participants find ICBT effective and why
other participants drop out of treatment prematurely.
Hypothesis
ICBT will be shown to decrease waitlist time and
improve cost effectiveness of SAD treatment
Introduction
• ICBT is a form of CBT treatment that is delivered
via internet.
• ICBT treatments consist of lessons that
encourages the patient to transform dysfunctional
thoughts, emotions, and behaviors into more
positive and constructive thoughts, emotions, and
behaviors (Hedman, 2011; Pier, 2008).
• SAD is described as an excessive and debilitating
fear of being closely watched, judged, or
criticized by others (Hedman, 2011).
• 1 out of 10 people suffer or have suffered from
SAD (Kerns, 2013).
• Approximately 50% of the people who have been
diagnosed with a SAD have not received
treatment because traditional, face-to-face
psychotherapy can involve long waiting lists,
expensive costs, and may be located far from
rural regions (Romijn, 2015).
Implications
ICBT can be utilized between face-to-face
sessions, potentially increasing the time between
sessions. Increasing time between face-to-face
sessions has the potential to decrease the overall
cost of treatment for SAD and decrease waitlist
times by allowing psychologists to take on a
greater number of patients at a time.
References Available Upon Request short72@marshall.edu
Findings
• ICBT has been proven in numerous studies to be
an effective treatment when all modules are
completed (Brettschneidera, 2015; Carlbring,
2009; El Alaoui, 2015; Gajecki, 2014; Griffiths,
2007; Hedman, 2011; Kerns, 2013; Mewton, 2013;
Metwon,2012; Pier, 2008; Romijn, 2015; Tulbure,
2015; Vigerland, 2016).
• ICBT has shown to be an effective way to
decrease waitlist times (Romjin, 2015).