In the heart of the digital revolution, after the "Zoom revolution" dictated by the needs of lockdowns and Covid, the therapist's couch may no longer be needed. Today, with a simple click, you can access psychotherapy even while staying at home. But is it the same thing? According to new research, it would seem so.
A study conducted in the UK found that talking to your therapist via Zoom can be just as effective at treating anxiety and depression as traditional face-to-face sessions. Given the fact that remote psychotherapy sessions have a lower average cost, in an era in which mental health is at the center of global attention this circumstance could revolutionize the way we perceive and access psychological care.
The rise of online psychotherapy
With the advent of the COVID pandemic, as mentioned, many daily activities have moved online, and psychotherapy has not been far behind. Many therapists have had to quickly adapt to this new reality, offering virtual sessions to their patients. But what initially seemed like a temporary solution may actually have much deeper roots. This recent study suggests that one of the main advantages of virtual therapy may be its ability to provide treatments more quickly, thus improving patients' quality of life and reducing overall costs.
Ana Catarino, co-author of the study, makes a crucial point: “The true cost of mental health care comes not from treating these conditions, but from not treating them.” A statement that highlights the importance of providing timely and adequate access to care, especially in a context where the demand for mental health services is constantly increasing.
The most “virtualizable” therapy? The cognitive-behavioral one
Cognitive-Behavior Therapy (CBT) is a well-known type of therapy that helps treat various problems. The idea is that some negative habits related to how we think, feel and act can 'get stuck in our minds'. With the right help, we can also 'forget' them and replace them with more positive habits. Kathryn Boger, psychologist specializing in CBT at the Harvard Medical School and McLean Hospital, states that numerous studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of virtual CBT compared to traditional CBT, especially for conditions such as depression and anxiety.
But it's not just about numbers. The real strength of this study, published in the journal Nature Mental Health (I link it here), lies in the detailed analysis of the results of over 27.500 patients. Thanks to the unified structure of the English NHS, researchers have been able to examine cost-effectiveness in a way that would be impossible in fragmented healthcare systems, such as America's. And it was impossible even in the past: consider that i early studies on online psychotherapy date back almost 10 years.
Towards a digital future
As online psychotherapy gains traction, it is essential that mental health professionals adapt and train appropriately. Despite the evidence of its effectiveness, there is still some prejudice against it. With the increased demand and growing acceptance of online psychotherapy, we are likely to see a change in this perception.
It may not be ideal for everyone, but the findings of this study highlight the importance of expanding access to meet ever-increasing demand.
