Scientific basis

Internet-based self-help treatments have proved to be effective in a number of different conditions.

The patients are provided with access to treatment manuals over the Internet while receiving psychological support via e-mail or phone.

Studies have shown that the effectiveness of Internet-based CBT treatments with minimal support are comparable with the effectiveness of both real life individual treatments and treatments in groups.

Internetpsykiatri offers Internet treatment (ICBT) for depression, IBS, insomnia, health anxiety, panic disorder and social phobia (social anxiety syndrome). OCD-programmet offers ICBT for body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Our treatments are founded on a scientific research.

Our treatment results are evaluated continuously and reported to the quality register SibeR (https://siber.registercentrum.se/). The proportion of patients, who have received each treatment, that has improved significantly after treatment is as follows for the past year (this is based on a reduction in the severity of symptoms by at least 30% (health anxiety, IBS and social phobia) and 40% (depression, insomnia and panic disorder); updated February 2022):

  • Depression 44%
  • Health anxiety 45%
  • Insomnia (sleep problems) 48%
  • Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) 41%
  • Panic disorder 59%
  • Social phobia 45%

Here is a list of the most important papers on our own regular treatments. The focus is on treatment according to the Swedish model. For more studies, click on the menu to the left.

Depression

Effectiveness of internet-based cognitive behaviour therapy for depression in routine psychiatric care

Hedman E., Ljótsson B., Kaldo V., Hesser H., El Alaoui S., Kraepelien M., Andersson E., Rück C., Svanborg C., Andersson G., Lindefors N. (2014). E. J Affect Disord 2014 Feb;155:49-58.

Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD)

Therapist guided internet based cognitive behavioural therapy for body dysmorphic disorder: single blind randomised controlled trial

Enander J., Andersson E., Mataix-Cols D., Lichtenstein L., Alström K., Andersson G., Ljótsson B., Rück C. (2016). BMJ Feb 2;352;i241.

Health anxiety

Internet-based cognitive–behavioural therapy for severe health anxiety: randomised controlled trial

Hedman, E., Andersson, G., Andersson, E., Ljótsson, B., Rück, C., Asmundson, G. J. G., & Lindefors, N. (2011). The British Journal of Psychiatry, 198(3), 230–236.  

IBS

Internet-delivered exposure based treatment vs. stress management for irritable bowel syndrome: a randomized trial.

Ljótsson, B., Hedman, E., Andersson, E., Hesser, H., Lindfors, P., Hursti, T., Rydh, S., Rück, C., Lindefors, N., Andersson, G. (2011). American Journal of Gastroenterology, 106, 1481-1491.

Insomnia

Guided internet cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia compared to a control treatment – A randomized trial

Kaldo, V., Jernelöv, S., Blom, K., Ljótsson, B., Brodin, B., Jörgensen, M., Kraepelien, M., Rück, C., & Lindefors, N. (2015). Behaviour Research and Therapy, 71(0), 90-100.

Panic disorder

Effectiveness of Internet-based cognitive behaviour therapy for panic disorder in routine psychiatric care

Hedman E., Ljótsson B., Rück C., Bergström J., Andersson G., Kaldo V., Jansson L., Andersson E., Andersson E., Blom K., El Alaoui S., Falk L., Ivarsson J., Nasri B., Rydh S., Lindefors N. (2013). Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2013 Dec;128(6):457-67.

Social anxiety disorder (social phobia)

Effectiveness of Internet-Based Cognitive-Behavior Therapy for Social Anxiety Disorder in Clinical Psychiatry

El Alaoui S., Hedman E., Kaldo V., Hesser H., Kraepelien M., Andersson E., Rück C., Andersson G., Ljótsson B., Lindefors N. (2015). Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. 2015 May 25.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

Internet-based cognitive behaviour therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder: a randomized controlled trial

Andersson E., Enander J., Andrén P., Hedman E., Ljótsson B., Hursti T., Bergström J., Kaldo V., Lindefors N., Andersson G., Rück C. (2012). Psychol Med. 2012;42(10):2193-203.