Aminoff Victoria, Baltius Matilda, Lundström Emelie, Berg Matilda, Andersson Gerhard, Ludvigsson Mikael
Department of Behavioural Sciences and Learning, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
JMIR Form Res. 2025 Jun 11;9:e66908. doi: 10.2196/66908.
During 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.
This qualitative study aimed to investigate the experiences of participants undergoing individually tailored ICBT with weekly therapist support during the COVID-19 pandemic.
We 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.
A 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).
The 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.
在新冠疫情期间，身心健康均面临风险。基于互联网的认知行为疗法（ICBT）是一种心理治疗方法，由于无需面对面交流，其本身不会增加病毒传播风险。研究发现，ICBT在新冠疫情之前及期间，对各种心理健康问题均有效。尽管此前已有研究对接受ICBT的经历进行了调查，但对于在新冠疫情期间参与ICBT的具体体验，相关研究较少。
本定性研究旨在调查在新冠疫情期间，参与者在每周有治疗师支持的情况下接受个性化ICBT的体验。
我们联系了在2020年夏季因与新冠疫情相关的心理症状接受ICBT治疗的试验参与者。根据登录治疗平台的次数等因素，选取了一个具有策略性的样本，以尽可能实现最大程度的多样性。在治疗结束后4至6个月进行半结构化电话访谈，具体时间取决于参与者最初被分配到治疗组还是对照组。数据转录后，基于主题分析进行分析。
共对16名年龄在23岁至78岁之间的参与者进行了访谈。主题分析得出了四个主要主题和十个子主题：（1）治疗的功能（启动与激励、拓宽视野）；（2）治疗等同于工作（对治疗要求高的体验、从文本到行动、治疗后参与、参与者能动性）；（3）经历的变化（与新冠疫情相关的变化、与新冠疫情无关的其他变化）；（4）对其他方面的期望（个性化、与治疗师的联系）。
研究结果与之前关于ICBT体验的定性研究结果密切一致。参与者对治疗的内容和形式表示赞赏。访谈中也表达了对改变的建议和期望。然而，一个独特的发现是，参与者描述了与新冠疫情相关的幸福感变化。同时，也有报告称存在与疫情无关的其他症状变化。对于退出ICBT的参与者的体验以及他们更喜欢的治疗师联系方式类型，还需要进一步研究。
