SynthesisCMAJ : Canadian Medical Association journal = journal de l'Association medicale canadienne2024
Therapist-guided remote versus in-person cognitive behavioural therapy: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Erratum issuedAbstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
In one paragraph
Synthesis in CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association journal = journal de l'Association medicale canadienne, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Cited by 26 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.
0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
26citing papers in PubMed, 4 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
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.
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.
Who cites it
26 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Digital Health Interventions and Psychosocial Outcomes in Women With Breast Cancer: Systematic Review.JMIR cancer · 2026Pooled it
- Tele-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for the Treatment of Diabetes-Related Distress in Individuals With Diabetes Mellitus: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.Journal of medical Internet research · 2025Pooled it
- Cognitive behavioral therapy's impact on anxiety, depression, and quality of life in patients with head and neck cancer: a systematic review.Frontiers in psychology · 2025Pooled it
- Interventions for the management of long covid (post-covid condition): living systematic review.BMJ (Clinical research ed.) · 2024Pooled it
- Effect of a digital intervention on mental health symptoms in adults with chronic conditions: A three-arm randomized controlled trial.PLoS medicine · 2026Trial
- Music Therapy Versus Cognitive Behavioral Therapy via Telehealth for Anxiety in Survivors of Cancer: A Randomized Clinical Trial.Journal of clinical oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology · 2026Trial
- The REDUCE Intervention: The Development of a Person-Centred Cognitive Behavioural Intervention to Improve Ulcer Outcomes in People at Risk of Diabetic Foot Ulceration.Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy · 2025Trial
- Psychotherapeutic Competencies in Blended Care Psychotherapy: Development of a Competence Framework.JMIR mental health · 2026Article
- Therapist Skepticism and Adaptation to Teletherapy Under Enforced Uptake, With Theoretical Considerations for AI-Mediated Care: Qualitative Study.JMIR formative research · 2026Article
- Racial and gender disparities in reasons for seeking mental healthcare in Canada.Discover mental health · 2026Article
- Prediction of Clinically Meaningful Improvement After Internet-Delivered Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression and Anxiety Disorders: Machine Learning-Based Predictive Model Development and Temporal Validation Study.Journal of medical Internet research · 2026Article
- About Face: Is Virtual Group Delivery of Clinical Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) as Effective as Face-to-Face Group Delivery in Improving Psychological and Physiological Markers of Health?Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Bridging inpatient and community treatment: feasibility, acceptability, and short-term outcomes of step care, a virtual CBT-E pathway for adults with severe eating disorders.Journal of eating disorders · 2026Article
- Cancer survivors' attitudes toward service delivery formats for interventions targeting cognitive impairments: a survey study.BMC health services research · 2026Article
- Mental health distress and associated factors among online CBT service users during the Iron Swords War.Frontiers in psychology · 2026Article
- Pharmacists may facilitate opioid tapering before total hip or knee arthroplasty.Annals of joint · 2026Article
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Pain Chronification: Neuroimmune Rationale, Evidence Boundaries, and Trial Design Priorities: A Structured Narrative Review.Journal of pain research · 2026Review
- Self-Guided Mental Health Interventions for Premenstrual Mood Symptoms.Current psychiatry reports · 2025Review
- Return-to-Work Outcomes Following Mental Health Treatment Among Public Safety Personnel Disabled by Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.Journal of occupational rehabilitation · 2025Article
- Article
Corrections and comments
- Erratum issued
Authors and funding
13 authors.
Sara ZandiehDepartment of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact (Zandieh, Sadeghirad, Wang, Yao, Pathak, Busse), McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont.; Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technology in Health (Zandieh), Toronto, Ont.; Nutrition Research Center, School of Nutrition and Food Sciences (Abdollahzadeh), Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran; Department of Anesthesia (Sadeghirad, Wang, Busse), McMaster University; The Michael G. DeGroote National Pain Centre (Wang, Torabiardakani, Busse), McMaster University; St. Joseph's Healthcare (McCabe, Bieling); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences (McCabe, Inness, Bieling), McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont.; Institute for Management and Innovation (Crandon), University of Toronto, Mississauga, Ont.
Seyedeh Maryam AbdollahzadehDepartment of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact (Zandieh, Sadeghirad, Wang, Yao, Pathak, Busse), McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont.; Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technology in Health (Zandieh), Toronto, Ont.; Nutrition Research Center, School of Nutrition and Food Sciences (Abdollahzadeh), Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran; Department of Anesthesia (Sadeghirad, Wang, Busse), McMaster University; The Michael G. DeGroote National Pain Centre (Wang, Torabiardakani, Busse), McMaster University; St. Joseph's Healthcare (McCabe, Bieling); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences (McCabe, Inness, Bieling), McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont.; Institute for Management and Innovation (Crandon), University of Toronto, Mississauga, Ont.
Behnam SadeghiradDepartment of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact (Zandieh, Sadeghirad, Wang, Yao, Pathak, Busse), McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont.; Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technology in Health (Zandieh), Toronto, Ont.; Nutrition Research Center, School of Nutrition and Food Sciences (Abdollahzadeh), Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran; Department of Anesthesia (Sadeghirad, Wang, Busse), McMaster University; The Michael G. DeGroote National Pain Centre (Wang, Torabiardakani, Busse), McMaster University; St. Joseph's Healthcare (McCabe, Bieling); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences (McCabe, Inness, Bieling), McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont.; Institute for Management and Innovation (Crandon), University of Toronto, Mississauga, Ont.
Li WangDepartment of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact (Zandieh, Sadeghirad, Wang, Yao, Pathak, Busse), McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont.; Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technology in Health (Zandieh), Toronto, Ont.; Nutrition Research Center, School of Nutrition and Food Sciences (Abdollahzadeh), Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran; Department of Anesthesia (Sadeghirad, Wang, Busse), McMaster University; The Michael G. DeGroote National Pain Centre (Wang, Torabiardakani, Busse), McMaster University; St. Joseph's Healthcare (McCabe, Bieling); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences (McCabe, Inness, Bieling), McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont.; Institute for Management and Innovation (Crandon), University of Toronto, Mississauga, Ont.
Randi E McCabeDepartment of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact (Zandieh, Sadeghirad, Wang, Yao, Pathak, Busse), McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont.; Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technology in Health (Zandieh), Toronto, Ont.; Nutrition Research Center, School of Nutrition and Food Sciences (Abdollahzadeh), Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran; Department of Anesthesia (Sadeghirad, Wang, Busse), McMaster University; The Michael G. DeGroote National Pain Centre (Wang, Torabiardakani, Busse), McMaster University; St. Joseph's Healthcare (McCabe, Bieling); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences (McCabe, Inness, Bieling), McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont.; Institute for Management and Innovation (Crandon), University of Toronto, Mississauga, Ont.
Liam YaoDepartment of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact (Zandieh, Sadeghirad, Wang, Yao, Pathak, Busse), McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont.; Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technology in Health (Zandieh), Toronto, Ont.; Nutrition Research Center, School of Nutrition and Food Sciences (Abdollahzadeh), Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran; Department of Anesthesia (Sadeghirad, Wang, Busse), McMaster University; The Michael G. DeGroote National Pain Centre (Wang, Torabiardakani, Busse), McMaster University; St. Joseph's Healthcare (McCabe, Bieling); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences (McCabe, Inness, Bieling), McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont.; Institute for Management and Innovation (Crandon), University of Toronto, Mississauga, Ont.
Briar E InnessDepartment of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact (Zandieh, Sadeghirad, Wang, Yao, Pathak, Busse), McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont.; Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technology in Health (Zandieh), Toronto, Ont.; Nutrition Research Center, School of Nutrition and Food Sciences (Abdollahzadeh), Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran; Department of Anesthesia (Sadeghirad, Wang, Busse), McMaster University; The Michael G. DeGroote National Pain Centre (Wang, Torabiardakani, Busse), McMaster University; St. Joseph's Healthcare (McCabe, Bieling); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences (McCabe, Inness, Bieling), McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont.; Institute for Management and Innovation (Crandon), University of Toronto, Mississauga, Ont.
Ananya PathakDepartment of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact (Zandieh, Sadeghirad, Wang, Yao, Pathak, Busse), McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont.; Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technology in Health (Zandieh), Toronto, Ont.; Nutrition Research Center, School of Nutrition and Food Sciences (Abdollahzadeh), Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran; Department of Anesthesia (Sadeghirad, Wang, Busse), McMaster University; The Michael G. DeGroote National Pain Centre (Wang, Torabiardakani, Busse), McMaster University; St. Joseph's Healthcare (McCabe, Bieling); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences (McCabe, Inness, Bieling), McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont.; Institute for Management and Innovation (Crandon), University of Toronto, Mississauga, Ont.
Rachel J CoubanDepartment of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact (Zandieh, Sadeghirad, Wang, Yao, Pathak, Busse), McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont.; Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technology in Health (Zandieh), Toronto, Ont.; Nutrition Research Center, School of Nutrition and Food Sciences (Abdollahzadeh), Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran; Department of Anesthesia (Sadeghirad, Wang, Busse), McMaster University; The Michael G. DeGroote National Pain Centre (Wang, Torabiardakani, Busse), McMaster University; St. Joseph's Healthcare (McCabe, Bieling); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences (McCabe, Inness, Bieling), McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont.; Institute for Management and Innovation (Crandon), University of Toronto, Mississauga, Ont.
Holly CrandonDepartment of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact (Zandieh, Sadeghirad, Wang, Yao, Pathak, Busse), McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont.; Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technology in Health (Zandieh), Toronto, Ont.; Nutrition Research Center, School of Nutrition and Food Sciences (Abdollahzadeh), Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran; Department of Anesthesia (Sadeghirad, Wang, Busse), McMaster University; The Michael G. DeGroote National Pain Centre (Wang, Torabiardakani, Busse), McMaster University; St. Joseph's Healthcare (McCabe, Bieling); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences (McCabe, Inness, Bieling), McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont.; Institute for Management and Innovation (Crandon), University of Toronto, Mississauga, Ont.
Kian TorabiardakaniDepartment of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact (Zandieh, Sadeghirad, Wang, Yao, Pathak, Busse), McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont.; Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technology in Health (Zandieh), Toronto, Ont.; Nutrition Research Center, School of Nutrition and Food Sciences (Abdollahzadeh), Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran; Department of Anesthesia (Sadeghirad, Wang, Busse), McMaster University; The Michael G. DeGroote National Pain Centre (Wang, Torabiardakani, Busse), McMaster University; St. Joseph's Healthcare (McCabe, Bieling); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences (McCabe, Inness, Bieling), McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont.; Institute for Management and Innovation (Crandon), University of Toronto, Mississauga, Ont.
Peter BielingDepartment of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact (Zandieh, Sadeghirad, Wang, Yao, Pathak, Busse), McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont.; Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technology in Health (Zandieh), Toronto, Ont.; Nutrition Research Center, School of Nutrition and Food Sciences (Abdollahzadeh), Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran; Department of Anesthesia (Sadeghirad, Wang, Busse), McMaster University; The Michael G. DeGroote National Pain Centre (Wang, Torabiardakani, Busse), McMaster University; St. Joseph's Healthcare (McCabe, Bieling); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences (McCabe, Inness, Bieling), McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont.; Institute for Management and Innovation (Crandon), University of Toronto, Mississauga, Ont.
Jason W BusseDepartment of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact (Zandieh, Sadeghirad, Wang, Yao, Pathak, Busse), McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont.; Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technology in Health (Zandieh), Toronto, Ont.; Nutrition Research Center, School of Nutrition and Food Sciences (Abdollahzadeh), Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran; Department of Anesthesia (Sadeghirad, Wang, Busse), McMaster University; The Michael G. DeGroote National Pain Centre (Wang, Torabiardakani, Busse), McMaster University; St. Joseph's Healthcare (McCabe, Bieling); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences (McCabe, Inness, Bieling), McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont.; Institute for Management and Innovation (Crandon), University of Toronto, Mississauga, Ont. bussejw@mcmaster.ca.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundCognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) has been shown to be effective for several psychiatric and somatic conditions; however, most randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have administered treatment in person and whether remote delivery is similarly effective remains uncertain. We sought to compare the effectiveness of therapist-guided remote CBT and in-person CBT.
methodsWe systematically searched MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials from inception to July 4, 2023, for RCTs that enrolled adults (aged ≥ 18 yr) presenting with any clinical condition and that randomized participants to either therapist-guided remote CBT (e.g., teleconference, videoconference) or in-person CBT. Paired reviewers assessed risk of bias and extracted data independently and in duplicate. We performed random-effects model meta-analyses to pool patient-important primary outcomes across eligible RCTs as standardized mean differences (SMDs). We used Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) guidance to assess the certainty of evidence and used the Instrument to Assess the Credibility of Effect Modification Analyses (ICEMAN) to rate the credibility of subgroup effects.
resultsWe included 54 RCTs that enrolled a total of 5463 patients. Seventeen studies focused on treatment of anxiety and related disorders, 14 on depressive symptoms, 7 on insomnia, 6 on chronic pain or fatigue syndromes, 5 on body image or eating disorders, 3 on tinnitus, 1 on alcohol use disorder, and 1 on mood and anxiety disorders. Moderate-certainty evidence showed little to no difference in the effectiveness of therapist-guided remote and in-person CBT on primary outcomes (SMD -0.02, 95% confidence interval -0.12 to 0.07).
interpretationModerate-certainty evidence showed little to no difference in the effectiveness of in-person and therapist-guided remote CBT across a range of mental health and somatic disorders, suggesting potential for the use of therapist-guided remote CBT to facilitate greater access to evidence-based care.
Indexed as
Cognitive Behavioral TherapyAdultAlcoholismAnxiety DisordersHumansRandomized Controlled Trials as Topic
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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390
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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.