TY - JOUR PY - 2021// TI - Individually tailored internet-delivered cognitive-behavioral therapy for survivors of intimate partner violence: a randomized controlled pilot trial JO - Internet interventions : the application of information technology in mental and behavioural health A1 - Andersson, Gerhard A1 - Olsson, Elin A1 - Ringsgård, Emma A1 - Sandgren, Therese A1 - Viklund, Ida A1 - Andersson, Catja A1 - Hesselman, Ylva A1 - Johansson, Robert A1 - Nordgren, Lise Bergman A1 - Bohman, Benjamin SP - e100453 EP - e100453 VL - 26 IS - N2 - Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a serious public health concern worldwide and defined as behavior performed by spouses or other intimate partners that causes physical, sexual, or psychological harm. Internet-delivered cognitive-behavioral therapy (ICBT) may be particularly useful for survivors of IPV for several reasons, including barriers pertaining to limited community recourses and treatment availability, safety concerns, and issues of stigma, guilt and shame, which may prevent members of this population from seeking help via face-to-face interactions. However, Internet interventions are lacking. The primary aim of the present randomized controlled pilot trial was to explore the feasibility of ICBT as guided self-help individually tailored to the predominant symptomatology of PTSD or depression in survivors of IPV. A second aim was to conduct a preliminary evaluation exploring the short- and long-term effects of the treatment in comparison to a waitlist control condition.

RESULTS showed that the treatment was feasible. Attrition rate was low (9.4%), and participants were satisfied with treatment. However, treatment adherence was moderate in terms of completed modules (62.5%).

RESULTS of the preliminary evaluation of treatment effects showed large and statistically significant between-group effect sizes (Cohen's d = 0.86-1.08) on some measures of PTSD and depression at post assessment, favoring the treatment condition. However, there were no effects on other measures. At follow-up assessment, when the control condition had received delayed treatment, there were large and statistically significant within-group effect sizes (d = 0.96-1.48) on measures of PTSD, depression and anxiety, and small effects (d = 0.48) on a measure of quality of life. The results of the present pilot study are promising and warrant further research on ICBT for this population.

Language: en

LA - en SN - 2214-7829 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.invent.2021.100453 ID - ref1 ER -