scholarly journals Internet-Delivered Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (ICBT) for Depression and Anxiety among Clients Referred and Funded by Insurance Companies: Benchmarking Outcomes with Publicly-Funded ICBT (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather D. Hadjistavropoulos ◽  
Vanessa Peynenburg ◽  
Swati Mehta ◽  
Kelly Adlam ◽  
Marcie Nugent ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND Anxiety and depression are leading causes of disability, but are often undertreated. Internet-delivered cognitive behaviour therapy (ICBT) improves access to treatment by overcoming barriers to obtaining care, such as location, time, and privacy. ICBT has been found to be efficacious in research trials and routine care, but there has been limited study of ICBT when ICBT is recommended and funded by insurance companies for clients on or recently in receipt of disability benefits or accommodations. OBJECTIVE The goal of this study was to examine ICBT engagement, acceptability, and effectiveness among individuals involved with two insurance companies. The two samples were benchmarked against previously published outcomes obtained in a publicly-funded ICBT clinic. METHODS Individuals who were on or recently in receipt of disability benefits and were either employees of an insurance company (n = 21) or plan members of an insurance company (n = 19) were referred to ICBT funded by the respective insurance companies. Outcomes from these two samples were benchmarked against outcomes of ICBT obtained in a publicly-funded ICBT clinic, with clients in the clinic divided into those who reported no involvement with insurance companies (n = 414) and those who self-reported being on short-term disability (n = 44). All clients received the same 8-week, therapist-assisted, transdiagnostic ICBT course targeting symptoms of anxiety and depression. Engagement was assessed by examining ICBT completion rates, and number of emails exchanged and log-ins. Acceptability was assessed using post-treatment satisfaction questions. Effectiveness was assessed using measures of depression, anxiety, and disability administered at pre-treatment, post-treatment and 3-month follow-up. RESULTS All samples showed high levels of ICBT engagement and acceptability. Insurance company employees experienced significant effects on outcome measures at post-treatment (depression d = 0.48; anxiety d = 0.81; disability d = 0.72) that were maintained at 3-month follow-up. Insurance company plan members, who notably had greater pre-treatment disability than the other samples, experienced significant moderate effects on outcome measures at post-treatment (depression d = 0.56, anxiety d = 0.53, disability d = 0.48), but gains were not maintained at 3-month follow-up. Effect sizes in both insurance company samples were significantly smaller than in the publicly-funded sample who reported no insurance benefits (depression d = 1.17-1.20; anxiety d = 1.31-1.36; disability d =.93-1.06 at post-treatment and 3-month follow-up) and the publicly-funded sample who reported having short-term disability benefits (depression d = .89-1.06; anxiety d = 1.01-1.18; disability d =.86-1.03 at post-treatment and 3-month follow-up). CONCLUSIONS Many clients referred and funded by insurance companies were engaged with ICBT and found it acceptable and effective. Results, however, were not maintained among those with very high levels of pre-treatment disability. Directions for future research related to ICBT funded by insurance companies are described.

2018 ◽  
Vol 49 (09) ◽  
pp. 1565-1573 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard A. Bryant ◽  
Lucy Kenny ◽  
Natasha Rawson ◽  
Catherine Cahill ◽  
Amy Joscelyne ◽  
...  

AbstractBackgroundAlthough emergency service personnel experience markedly elevated the rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), there are no rigorously conducted trials for PTSD in this population. This study assessed the efficacy of cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) for PTSD in emergency service personnel, and examined if brief exposure (CBT-B) to trauma memories is no less efficacious as prolonged exposure (CBT-L).MethodOne hundred emergency service personnel with PTSD were randomised to either immediate CBT-L, CBT-B or wait-list (WL). Following post-treatment assessment, WL participants were randomised to an active treatment. Participants randomised to CBT-L or CBT-B were assessed at baseline, post-treatment and at 6-month follow-up. Both CBT conditions involved 12 weekly individual sessions comprising education, CBT skills building, imaginal exposure, in vivo exposure, cognitive restructuring and relapse prevention. Imaginal exposure occurred for 40 min per session in CBT-L and for 10 min in CBT-B.ResultsAt post-treatment, participants in WL had smaller reductions in PTSD severity (Clinician Administered PTSD Scale), depression, maladaptive appraisals about oneself and the world, and smaller improvements on psychological and social quality of life than CBT-L and CBT-B. There were no differences between CBT-L and CBT-B at follow-up on primary or secondary outcome measures but both CBT-L and CBT-B had large baseline to follow-up effect sizes for reduction of PTSD symptoms.ConclusionsThis study highlights that CBT, which can include either long or brief imaginal exposure, is efficacious in reducing PTSD in emergency service personnel.


1984 ◽  
Vol 145 (4) ◽  
pp. 366-371 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nora A. Larcombe ◽  
Peter H. Wilson

SummaryTwenty depressed multiple sclerotic patients were randomly allocated either to cognitive-behaviour therapy or to a waiting list control condition. Assessment of depressive symptoms was conducted at pre-treatment, post-treatment, and a four-week follow-up. In comparison to the waiting list control condition, cognitive-behaviour therapy was found to result in clinically and statistically significant improvement on most measures. Although the mechanism by which such treatment achieves its effects is unclear, these results clearly support the use of cognitive-behavioural treatments for depression in this population.


2012 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 452-461 ◽  
Author(s):  
Georgina Krebs ◽  
Cynthia Turner ◽  
Isobel Heyman ◽  
David Mataix-Cols

Background: Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is relatively common in adolescents and can have serious negative consequences. However, the treatment of BDD in young people has received virtually no empirical attention to date, and the evidence-base for cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) in this population is limited to a small number of single case reports. Aims: This study aimed to investigate treatment outcomes associated with CBT, primarily consisting of exposure and response prevention, in a group of young people with BDD. Method: Six adolescents with a diagnosis of BDD received a course of developmentally appropriate CBT for BDD with parental involvement. BDD and depressive symptoms were evaluated at pre-treatment, post-treatment and at 3- or 6-month follow-up, using the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale for BDD (BDD-YBOCS) and the Beck Depression Inventory-Youth, respectively. Results: Scores on the BDD-YBOCS indicated a 44% improvement in BDD symptoms at post-treatment and a 57% improvement at follow-up for the group. Considering response as a ≥30% reduction in BDD-YBOCS score, four of the six adolescents were classified as treatment responders. Improvements in depressive symptoms were observed among the treatment responders, but not the non-responders. Conclusions: These findings indicate the potential efficacy of CBT, including exposure and response prevention for adolescents with BDD, and highlight the need for further controlled trials.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoshimi Sugiura ◽  
Fumiki Okamoto ◽  
Tomoya Murakami ◽  
Shohei Morikawa ◽  
Takahiro Hiraoka ◽  
...  

AbstractTo evaluate the effects of intravitreal ranibizumab injection (IVR) on metamorphopsia in patients with branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO), and to assess the relationship between metamorphopsia and inner retinal microstructure and other factors. Thirty-three treatment-naïve eyes of 33 patients with macular edema caused by BRVO with at least 12 months of follow-up were included. The degree of metamorphopsia was quantified using the M-CHARTS. Retinal microstructure was assessed with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. Disorganization of the retinal inner layers (DRIL) at the first month after resolution of the macular edema (early DRIL) and at 12 months after treatment (after DRIL) was studied. Central retinal thickness (CRT), and status of the external limiting membrane as well as ellipsoid zone were also evaluated. IVR treatment significantly improved best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and CRT, but the mean metamorphopsia score did not improve even after 12 months. Post-treatment metamorphopsia scores showed a significant correlation with pre-treatment metamorphopsia scores (P < 0.005), the extent of early DRIL (P < 0.05) and after DRIL (P < 0.05), and the number of injections (P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis revealed that the post-treatment mean metamorphopsia score was significantly correlated with the pre-treatment mean metamorphopsia score (P < 0.05). IVR treatment significantly improved BCVA and CRT, but not metamorphopsia. Post-treatment metamorphopsia scores were significantly associated with pre-treatment metamorphopsia scores, the extent of DRIL, and the number of injections. Prognostic factor of metamorphopsia was the degree of pre-treatment metamorphopsia.


Author(s):  
Gamze Akkus ◽  
Barış Karagun ◽  
Hilal Nur Yaldız ◽  
Mehtap Evran ◽  
Murat Sert ◽  
...  

AbstractObjectivesProlactinoma is the most common cause of pituitary tumours. Current medical guidelines recommend dopamine agonists (cabergoline or bromocriptine) as the initial therapy for prolactinoma. However, surgical removal can also be considered in selected cases, such as patients with macroadenomas with local complications (bleeding or optic chiasm pressure) or those not responding to medical treatment.MethodsThe present retrospective study included patients with prolactinomas (n=43; female, 24; male, 19) who were primarily managed with medical (n=32) or surgical (n=11) treatment.ResultsMacroadenoma (n=29.67%) was commonly detected in both genders (female, 54%; male, 84%). Moreover, the mean pre-treatment prolactin levels were similar in both genders (female, 683.3 ± 1347 ng/mL; male, 685.4 ± 805 ng/mL; p=0.226). Surgically treated patients had a greater reduction in tumour size (27.7 ± 17.9 mm pre-treatment vs. 8.72 ± 14.2 mm post-treatment) than non-surgically treated ones (12.5 ± 7.5 mm pre-treatment vs. 4.1 ± 4.2 mm post-treatment; p=0.00). However, the decrease in prolactin levels was similar between the two patient groups (p=0.108). During the follow-up period (10.6 ± 7.0 years), the average cabergoline dose of the patients was 1.42 ± 1.47 mcg/week.ConclusionsAlthough a surgical approach was considered for selected cases of prolactinoma, the average dose used for medical treatment was highly inadequate for the patients in the present study.


Author(s):  
Henriët van Middendorp ◽  
Anneleen Berende ◽  
Fidel J. Vos ◽  
Hadewych H. M. ter Hofstede ◽  
Bart Jan Kullberg ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction/Objective Expectancies about symptom improvement or deterioration are reliable predictors of symptom progression and treatment outcomes (symptom resolution or symptomatic improvement) in many (non-)pharmacological studies and treatments. This study examined predictors of symptom improvement after antimicrobial therapy for persistent symptoms attributed to Lyme disease, hypothesizing particularly pre-treatment expectancies regarding symptom improvement to be predictive. Methods A predictive study was performed on pre-treatment and post-treatment individual characteristics, including expectancies, and physical and mental health–related quality of life (HRQoL) from the PLEASE-trial comparing randomized 12-weeks of doxycycline, clarithromycin-hydroxychloroquine, or placebo following 2 weeks of intravenous ceftriaxone. At end-of-treatment (14 weeks after trial start) and follow-up (52 weeks), complete data of 231 and 170 (of initial 280) patients with persistent symptoms temporally related to a history of erythema migrans or otherwise confirmed symptomatic Lyme disease, or accompanied by B. burgdorferi IgG or IgM antibodies, were examined through hierarchical regression analyses. Results In addition to pre-treatment HRQoL, pre-treatment expectancies regarding symptom improvement were consistently associated with stronger physical and mental HRQoL improvements at both end-of-treatment and follow-up (95% CI range: .09;.54, p < .01 to .27;.92, p < .001). Post-treatment expectancies regarding having received antibiotics vs. placebo was associated with more HRQoL improvement at end-of-treatment, but not at follow-up (95% CI-range 1.00;4.75, p = .003 to −7.34; −2.22, p < .001). Conclusions The present study shows that, next to pre-treatment functioning, patients’ pre-treatment and post-treatment expectancies regarding improvement of persistent symptoms attributed to Lyme disease relate to a more beneficial symptom course. Expectancies of patients may be relevant to explain and potentially improve patient outcomes (e.g., by optimized communication about treatment success). Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01207739 (Registration date: 23–09-2010) Key Points• As there is currently no sufficient symptom resolution or symptomatic improvement for many patients with persistent symptoms attributed to Lyme disease, it is relevant to know which factors determine symptom progression and predict heterogeneity in treatment response.• Next to pre-treatment functioning, expectancies regarding symptom improvement and having received antimicrobial study medication are associated with a more beneficial symptom course after both shorter-term and longer-term antimicrobial treatment.• Expectancies are relevant to consider in treatment studies and may be useful in clinical settings to improve symptom course and treatment outcome (e.g., by optimized communication about treatment success).


2001 ◽  
Vol 70 (6) ◽  
pp. 298-306 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valdo Ricca ◽  
Edoardo Mannucci ◽  
Barbara Mezzani ◽  
Sandra Moretti ◽  
Milena Di Bernardo ◽  
...  

2003 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 499-509 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. C. DURHAM ◽  
J. A. CHAMBERS ◽  
R. R. MACDONALD ◽  
K. G. POWER ◽  
K. MAJOR

Background. Generalized anxiety disorder is a common condition of excessive worry and tension which tends to run a chronic course associated with significant psychiatric and medical problems. Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) has been shown to be of clinical value in about 50% of cases with treatment gains maintained over follow-up periods ranging from 6 to 12 months. The potential value of CBT over the longer term has not been subject to rigorous investigation.Method. Results are reported of 8–14 year follow-up of two randomized controlled trials of cognitive-behaviour therapy for generalized anxiety disorder employing structured interview with an assessor blind to initial treatment condition. Comparison groups included medication and placebo in one study based in primary care, and analytical psychotherapy in the other based in secondary care. Follow-up samples (30% and 55% of trial entrants) were broadly representative of the original cohorts.Results. Overall, 50% of participants were markedly improved of whom 30–40% were recovered (i.e. free of symptoms). Outcome was significantly worse for the study based in secondary care in which the clinical presentation of participants was more complex and severe. For a minority (30–40%), mainly from the secondary care study, outcome was poor. Treatment with CBT was associated with significantly lower overall severity of symptomatology and less interim treatment, in comparison with non-CBT conditions, but there was no evidence that CBT influenced diagnostic status, probability of recovery or patient perceptions of overall improvement.Conclusions. Both CBT and the complexity and severity of presenting problems appear to influence the long-term outcome of GAD.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document