Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Social Anxiety with and without Guidance Compared to a Wait List in China: A Propensity Score Study

Abstract

Letter to the Editor (approx. 200 million adult people) in combination with a huge unmet need for treatment of mental disorders Internet interventions might be an easily accessible and cost-effective way to deliver evidence-based treatment for mental disorders to people who otherwise never would have the opportunity to receive effective treatment. Although there is a wealth of studies that show the efficacy and effectiveness of Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (ICBT) in Western countries, there is a considerable lack of studies that investigate the efficacy of such treatments in non-Western countries So far, several studies have evaluated the efficacy of ICBT for SAD in controlled trials in Western countries with promising results An important discussion in the field is about the degree of support and guidance needed during Internet-based selfhelp treatments The aim of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of an established self-help program for increased social anxiety in a Chinese population. Additionally, we investigated whether minimal guidance by trained therapists had an incremental value regarding symptom improvement and adherence.