Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40499158›Full record

ArticleJMIR formative research2025

Experiences of Individually Tailored Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Qualitative Interview Study.

Victoria Aminoff, Matilda Baltius, Emelie Lundström, Matilda Berg, Gerhard Andersson, Mikael Ludvigsson

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in JMIR formative research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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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

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

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No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Victoria AminoffDepartment of Behavioural Sciences and Learning, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.ORCID 0000-0001-5939-9536
Matilda BaltiusDepartment of Behavioural Sciences and Learning, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.ORCID 0009-0009-8524-498X
Emelie LundströmDepartment of Behavioural Sciences and Learning, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.ORCID 0009-0004-2866-9600
Matilda BergDepartment of Behavioural Sciences and Learning, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.ORCID 0000-0003-3375-0556
Gerhard AnderssonDepartment of Behavioural Sciences and Learning, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.ORCID 0000-0003-4753-6745
Mikael LudvigssonDepartment of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.ORCID 0000-0002-6309-4599

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, both physical and psychological health were at risk. Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (ICBT) is a psychological treatment alternative that does not inherently increase the risk of virus transmission because face-to-face interactions are not required. ICBT has been found to be effective for a variety of mental health problems, both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the experiences of undergoing ICBT have been investigated in previous studies, the specific experiences of participating in ICBT during the COVID-19 pandemic have been less examined.

objectiveThis qualitative study aimed to investigate the experiences of participants undergoing individually tailored ICBT with weekly therapist support during the COVID-19 pandemic.

methodsWe approached trial participants who had received ICBT for psychological symptoms related to the COVID-19 pandemic during the summer of 2020. A strategic sample, based on the number of log-ins to the treatment platform, among other factors, was selected in an effort to achieve the highest possible variation. Semistructured telephone interviews were conducted 4 to 6 months after treatment completion, depending on whether the participant was initially assigned to the treatment or control group. Data were transcribed and then analyzed based on thematic analysis.

resultsA total of 16 participants aged between 23 and 78 years were interviewed. Four main themes and 10 subthemes were derived from the thematic analysis: (1) functions of the treatment (initiating and motivating, perspective widening), (2) treatment equals work (experience of the treatment as demanding, going from text to action, posttreatment engagement, participant agency), (3) changes experienced (changes in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic, other changes not related to the COVID-19 pandemic), and (4) wishing for something else (individually tailored, contact with the therapist).

conclusionsThe results closely align with those of previous qualitative studies on experiences of ICBT. Participants expressed appreciation of the treatment's content and format. Suggestions and wishes for changes were also expressed in the interviews. However, a unique finding was that participants described experiencing changes in well-being related to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, there were also reports of changes in other symptoms not related to the pandemic. Further studies are needed on the experiences of participants who drop out of ICBT and the type of therapist contact they prefer.

Indexed as

Cognitive Behavioral TherapyCOVID-19Internet-Based InterventionAdultAgedFemaleHumansInternetInterviews as TopicMaleMiddle AgedPandemicsQualitative ResearchSARS-CoV-2COVID-19internetinternet-based cognitive behavioral therapyinterviewqualitative methodsthematic analysis

Identifiers

PMID40499158
PMCPMC12204044

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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.