Internet-Based Psychological Interventions during SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: An Experience in South of Italy

Grazia D’Onofrio, Filomena Ciccone, Giuliana Placentino, Maria Placentino, Cinzia Tulipani, Annamaria Prencipe and Gabriella De Vincentis
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Grazia D’Onofrio: Clinical Psychology Service, Health Department, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, 71013 Foggia, Italy
Filomena Ciccone: Clinical Psychology Service, Health Department, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, 71013 Foggia, Italy
Giuliana Placentino: Clinical Psychology Service, Health Department, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, 71013 Foggia, Italy
Maria Placentino: Clinical Psychology Service, Health Department, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, 71013 Foggia, Italy
Cinzia Tulipani: Clinical Psychology Service, Health Department, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, 71013 Foggia, Italy
Annamaria Prencipe: Clinical Psychology Service, Health Department, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, 71013 Foggia, Italy
Gabriella De Vincentis: Health Department, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, 71013 Foggia, Italy

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 9, 1-10

Abstract: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has led to an increasing demand for online psychological intervention. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of received support in internet-based psychological intervention group (I-IG) patients, compared with a wait-list control group (CG). The Impact of Event Scale—Revised, Patient Health Questionnaire 9-item and Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale 7-item were administered. After participants had used the internet-based solution, the System Usability Scale was administered. In total, 221 patients (194 patients supported by internet-based interventions and 27 patients supported onsite) were included in intervention group, and 194 patients were included in CG. In a 6-month follow-up, participants in the I-IG demonstrated significant improvements in terms of PTSD risk ( p < 0.0001, d = 0.64), depression ( p < 0.0001, d = 0.68), and anxiety ( p < 0.0001, d = 1.33), compared to the CG. Significant improvements in onsite intervention group patients with a large to very large effect size of PTSD risk ( p < 0.0001, d = 0.91), depression ( p < 0.0001, d = 0.81), and anxiety ( p < 0.0001, d = 1.62) were found. After internet-based solution use, I-IG patients reported a very high usability and functionality (72.87 ± 13.11) of online intervention. In conclusion, SARS-CoV-2-related mental health problems can be improved by internet-based psychological intervention. The usability and functionality evaluation of online solutions by technological tools showed very positive results for the I-IG patients.

Keywords: SARS-CoV-2; internet-based support; post-traumatic stress disorder; mental health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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