Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37013501›Full record

SynthesisBMC psychiatry2023

A meta-analysis of internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy for military and veteran populations.

Jenny Jw Liu, Natalie Ein, Callista Forchuk, Sonya G Wanklyn, Suriya Ragu, Samdarsh Saroya, Anthony Nazarov, J Don Richardson

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisReview
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC psychiatry, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Jenny Jw LiuThe MacDonald Franklin OSI Research Centre, Parkwood Institute Research, Lawson Health Research Institute, Mental Health Building, 550 Wellington Road, RM F4-367, London, ON, N6C 0A7, Canada. jenny.liu@sjhc.london.on.ca.
Natalie EinThe MacDonald Franklin OSI Research Centre, Parkwood Institute Research, Lawson Health Research Institute, Mental Health Building, 550 Wellington Road, RM F4-367, London, ON, N6C 0A7, Canada.
Callista ForchukThe MacDonald Franklin OSI Research Centre, Parkwood Institute Research, Lawson Health Research Institute, Mental Health Building, 550 Wellington Road, RM F4-367, London, ON, N6C 0A7, Canada.
Sonya G WanklynOperational Stress Injury Clinic, Parkwood lnstitute, Greater Toronto Area (GTA), ON, Canada.
Suriya RaguThe MacDonald Franklin OSI Research Centre, Parkwood Institute Research, Lawson Health Research Institute, Mental Health Building, 550 Wellington Road, RM F4-367, London, ON, N6C 0A7, Canada.
Samdarsh SaroyaThe MacDonald Franklin OSI Research Centre, Parkwood Institute Research, Lawson Health Research Institute, Mental Health Building, 550 Wellington Road, RM F4-367, London, ON, N6C 0A7, Canada.
Anthony NazarovThe MacDonald Franklin OSI Research Centre, Parkwood Institute Research, Lawson Health Research Institute, Mental Health Building, 550 Wellington Road, RM F4-367, London, ON, N6C 0A7, Canada.
J Don RichardsonThe MacDonald Franklin OSI Research Centre, Parkwood Institute Research, Lawson Health Research Institute, Mental Health Building, 550 Wellington Road, RM F4-367, London, ON, N6C 0A7, Canada.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMilitary and veteran populations are unique in their trauma exposures, rates of mental illness and comorbidities, and response to treatments. While reviews have suggested that internet-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (iCBT) can be useful for treating mental health conditions, the extent to which they may be appropriate for military and veteran populations remain unclear. The goals of the current meta-analysis are to: (1) substantiate the effects of iCBT for military and veteran populations, (2) evaluate its effectiveness compared to control conditions, and (3) examine potential factors that may influence their effectiveness.

methodsThis review was completed following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) reporting and Cochrane review guidelines. The literature search was conducted using PsycInfo, Medline, Embase, and Proquest Dissertation & Theses on June 4, 2021 with no date restriction. Inclusion criteria included studies that: (1) were restricted to adult military or veteran populations, (2) incorporated iCBT as the primary treatment, and (3) evaluated mental health outcomes. Exclusion criteria included: (1) literature reviews, (2) qualitative studies, (3) study protocols, (4) studies that did not include a clinical/analogue population, and (5) studies with no measure of change on outcome variables. Two independent screeners reviewed studies for eligibility. Data was pooled and analyzed using random-effects and mixed-effects models. Study data information were extracted as the main outcomes, including study condition, sample size, and pre- and post-treatment means, standard deviations for all assessed outcomes, and target outcome. Predictor information were also extracted, and included demographics information, the types of outcomes measured, concurrent treatment, dropout rate, format, length, and delivery of intervention.

resultsA total of 20 studies and 91 samples of data were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled effect size showed a small but meaningful effect for iCBT, g = 0.54, SE = 0.04, 95% CI (0.45, 0.62), Z = 12.32, p < .001. These effects were heterogenous across samples, (I

conclusionsFindings from the meta-analysis lend support for the use of iCBT with military and veteran populations. Conditions under which iCBT may be optimized are discussed.

Indexed as

Cognitive Behavioral TherapyMental DisordersMilitary PersonnelVeteransAdultHumansInternetCognitive-behavioral therapyiCBTMilitaryVeterans

Identifiers

PMID37013501
PMCPMC10068715

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.