A Comparison of Computer-Assisted Psychotherapy and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy in Groups

Authors: Dolezal-Wood S.¹; Belar C.D.²; Snibbe J.

Source: Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings, Volume 05, Number 1, March 1998 , pp. 103-115(13)

Publisher: Springer

Abstract:

This study is the first independent, randomized controlled study in a clinical setting of a computer-assisted therapy program (Therapeutic Learning Program; TLP) developed to permit individualized therapy in a group setting. This software differs from other computer-assisted approaches in that targets for change are chosen by the patient rather than determined by the software. TLP was compared to a standard cognitive-behavioral treatment in 109 patients with 6-month follow-up. Although both treatments were associated with a significant reduction in symptoms of anxiety and depression at posttreatment and follow-up, no differences were found between treatments with respect to patient-rated satisfaction and effectiveness, clinician ratings of improvement, and scores on measures of anxiety and depression. At treatment midpoint patients tended to give more neutral ratings of satisfaction and treatment effectiveness of the TLP treatment, perhaps suspending judgment about this more novel treatment until its completion. It is concluded that at least one form of computer-assisted psychotherapy is as effective and acceptable to patients in a clinical setting as standard short-term cognitive-behavioral therapy conducted by experienced clinicians.

Keywords: computer-assisted psychotherapy; treatment comparisons; group treatment

Language: English

Document Type: Research article

Affiliations: 1: Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 2: Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Florida Health Science Center, Gainesville, Florida 32610

Publication date: 1998-03-01

• In this: publication
• By this: publisher
• In this Subject: Neurology & Psychiatry ,  Psychology
• By this author: Dolezal-Wood S. ;  Belar C.D. ;  Snibbe J.

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