An online automated psychoterapeutic intervention: efficacy and therapeutic relationship

Cezar Giosan (), Muresan Vlad (), Oana Cobeanu (), Aurora Szentagotai () and Oana David ()
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Cezar Giosan: Babes-Bolyai University
Muresan Vlad: Babes-Bolyai University
Oana Cobeanu: Babes-Bolyai University
Aurora Szentagotai: Babes-Bolyai University
Oana David: Babes-Bolyai University

No 2504225, Proceedings of International Academic Conferences from International Institute of Social and Economic Sciences

Abstract: Depression and anxiety problems are widespread, lifetime risks for developing anxiety are between 6.7% and 18.1% according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Depression is often associated with unemployment and poverty, and is the leading cause of disease burden in high-income countries. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is the best researched psychological treatment approach to emotional and behavioral problems. Lately, computerized and online CBT interventions have emerged as a cheaper, anonymous and location independent alternative to classical face-to-face therapy. Online CBT may reduce therapist time, reduce waiting lists, save travel expenses and allow access to people with disabilities, while having similar efficacy to classical therapy formats. The current study investigates the efficacy of a novel web-based therapeutic intervention in reducing depressive and anxiety symptomatology on a sub-clinical sample, as well as measuring the efficacy of a new way of improving the therapeutic relationship via animated avatars. Results show that the new treatment is efficient in reducing depressive symptoms, dysfunctional thoughts and negative emotionality. Additionally, perceived empathy was increased in the avatar-enhanced intervention, while therapeutic alliance was unaffected. Implications are discussed in the context on online CBT vs. classical face-to-face interventions.

Keywords: online CBT; internet; cognitive behavioral therapy; depression; anxiety (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I10 I19 I29 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 1 page
Date: 2015-06
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-hea and nep-neu
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Published in Proceedings of the Proceedings of the 16th International Academic Conference, Amsterdam, Jun 2015, pages 218-218

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