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Zandieh S, Abdollahzadeh SM, Sadeghirad B, Wang L, McCabe RE, Yao L, Inness BE, Pathak A, Couban RJ, Crandon H, Torabiardakani K, Bieling P, Busse JW. Therapist-guided remote versus in-person cognitive behavioural therapy: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. CMAJ 2024; 196:E327-E340. [PMID: 38499303 PMCID: PMC10948182 DOI: 10.1503/cmaj.230274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cognitive 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. METHODS We 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. RESULTS We 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). INTERPRETATION Moderate-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. Systematic review registration: Open Science Framework (https://osf.io/7asrc).
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Zandieh
- Department 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 Abdollahzadeh
- Department 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 Sadeghirad
- Department 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 Wang
- Department 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 McCabe
- Department 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 Yao
- Department 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 Inness
- Department 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 Pathak
- Department 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 Couban
- Department 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 Crandon
- Department 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 Torabiardakani
- Department 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 Bieling
- Department 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 Busse
- Department 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.
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Greenwood H, Krzyzaniak N, Peiris R, Clark J, Scott AM, Cardona M, Griffith R, Glasziou P. Telehealth Versus Face-to-face Psychotherapy for Less Common Mental Health Conditions: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. JMIR Ment Health 2022; 9:e31780. [PMID: 35275081 PMCID: PMC8956990 DOI: 10.2196/31780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Revised: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mental disorders are a leading cause of distress and disability worldwide. To meet patient demand, there is a need for increased access to high-quality, evidence-based mental health care. Telehealth has become well established in the treatment of illnesses, including mental health conditions. OBJECTIVE This study aims to conduct a robust evidence synthesis to assess whether there is evidence of differences between telehealth and face-to-face care for the management of less common mental and physical health conditions requiring psychotherapy. METHODS In this systematic review, we included randomized controlled trials comparing telehealth (telephone, video, or both) versus the face-to-face delivery of psychotherapy for less common mental health conditions and physical health conditions requiring psychotherapy. The psychotherapy delivered had to be comparable between the telehealth and face-to-face groups, and it had to be delivered by general practitioners, primary care nurses, or allied health staff (such as psychologists and counselors). Patient (symptom severity, overall improvement in psychological symptoms, and function), process (working alliance and client satisfaction), and financial (cost) outcomes were included. RESULTS A total of 12 randomized controlled trials were included, with 931 patients in aggregate; therapies included cognitive behavioral and family therapies delivered in populations encompassing addiction disorders, eating disorders, childhood mental health problems, and chronic conditions. Telehealth was delivered by video in 7 trials, by telephone in 3 trials, and by both in 1 trial, and the delivery mode was unclear in 1 trial. The risk of bias for the 12 trials was low or unclear for most domains, except for the lack of the blinding of participants, owing to the nature of the comparison. There were no significant differences in symptom severity between telehealth and face-to-face therapy immediately after treatment (standardized mean difference [SMD] 0.05, 95% CI -0.17 to 0.27) or at any other follow-up time point. Similarly, there were no significant differences immediately after treatment between telehealth and face-to-face care delivery on any of the other outcomes meta-analyzed, including overall improvement (SMD 0.00, 95% CI -0.40 to 0.39), function (SMD 0.13, 95% CI -0.16 to 0.42), working alliance client (SMD 0.11, 95% CI -0.34 to 0.57), working alliance therapist (SMD -0.16, 95% CI -0.91 to 0.59), and client satisfaction (SMD 0.12, 95% CI -0.30 to 0.53), or at any other time point (3, 6, and 12 months). CONCLUSIONS With regard to effectively treating less common mental health conditions and physical conditions requiring psychological support, there is insufficient evidence of a difference between psychotherapy delivered via telehealth and the same therapy delivered face-to-face. However, there was no includable evidence in this review for some serious mental health conditions, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorders, and further high-quality research is needed to determine whether telehealth is a viable, equivalent treatment option for these conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Greenwood
- Institute for Evidence-Based Healthcare, Bond University, Robina, Australia
| | - Natalia Krzyzaniak
- Institute for Evidence-Based Healthcare, Bond University, Robina, Australia.,School of Pharmacy, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Ruwani Peiris
- Institute for Evidence-Based Healthcare, Bond University, Robina, Australia
| | - Justin Clark
- Institute for Evidence-Based Healthcare, Bond University, Robina, Australia
| | - Anna Mae Scott
- Institute for Evidence-Based Healthcare, Bond University, Robina, Australia
| | - Magnolia Cardona
- Institute for Evidence-Based Healthcare, Bond University, Robina, Australia.,Gold Coast University Hospital Evidence-Based Practice Professorial Unit, Southport, Australia
| | | | - Paul Glasziou
- Institute for Evidence-Based Healthcare, Bond University, Robina, Australia
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