ArticleBMC psychiatry2025
Therapy in the digital age: exploring in-person and virtual cognitive behavioural therapy.
Article in BMC psychiatry, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled 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.
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
2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Effectiveness of Internet-Delivered Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (ICBT) in Improving Weight-Loss and Psychosocial Well-Being Among Adults With High BMI: A Systematic Review.Journal of clinical nursing · 2026Pooled it
- Comparing barriers to employee assistance program utilization in Canada and the United States using natural language processing and machine learning.PLOS mental health · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
Abstract
introductionThe adoption of client-centred care has become a foundational principle in mental health treatment, prioritising interventions tailored to the unique needs and preferences of clients across settings. Virtual or internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy (eCBT) has emerged as an effective, cost-efficient alternative to traditional, in-person CBT for a variety of mental health conditions, including anxiety and depression. Initially explored in experimental settings, eCBT gained substantial use during COVID-19, when the demand for accessible, remote mental health services were needed. Despite its broad implementation, limited research exists on the real-world experiences of clients who have participated in eCBT, particularly regarding its strengths and challenges compared to in-person therapy.
objectivesThis study aimed to (1) explore the experiences of clients who have participated in both in-person CBT and eCBT, and (2) identify strengths and challenges associated with each modality from the client's perspective.
methodsClients were recruited from three outpatient clinics at Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences in Whitby, Ontario. In-depth interviews were conducted with twelve clients between June and December 2023. Transcripts were analysed using Braun and Clarke's six-step approach to thematic analysis.
resultsFive main themes emerged from the data: (1) accessing therapy in a new way; (2) building a foundation for care: the client-provider relationship; (3) satisfaction with care; (4) addressing clients' needs in the environment; and (5) client empowerment. Many clients expressed high satisfaction with eCBT, citing factors such as ease of access, flexibility, and the perceived effectiveness of virtual sessions in fostering mental health support. However, clients also noted challenges with technology, which could impact therapeutic engagement and the quality of the client-provider relationship. DISCUSSION: The strengths and challenges identified in eCBT parallel those encountered in in-person settings, though eCBT was particularly appreciated by clients comfortable with digital environments. These findings emphasise the importance of client-centred care in virtual contexts, including the need for provider training in digital rapport-building and consideration of technological barriers. Ultimately, insights from this study can inform the refinement of eCBT delivery and support tailored approaches that align with the diverse needs of mental health service users in post-pandemic healthcare landscapes.
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Registered trials
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.