Online Interventions for Post-Traumatic:A Systematic Review

Ho-ming Lee()
Andrea Roalfe()

Abstract

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is common, yet access to face-to-face psychological treatment is limited. Online interventions provide an alternative for PTSD patients. This meta-analysis reviewed 46 randomized controlled trials published in English or Chinese since 2000. Seven types of online interventions were examined, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), expressive writing, Interapy, cognitive performance tasks, psychosocial interventions, psychoeducation, and mindfulness. Four outcomes were analyzed: PTSD total score, intrusion, avoidance, and hyperarousal.

Results showed that CBT and Interapy were the most effective compared with passive controls, followed by psychosocial interventions and expressive writing. Online interventions were more effective than passive controls but not significantly better than active controls. Dropout rates suggested good patient acceptance. Subgroup analyses found no significant differences between cancer and non-cancer patients or between parental and non-parental groups receiving CBT. Although findings are promising, more studies are needed to explore different therapeutic approaches, effects on negative cognition and post-traumatic growth, and the development of individualized online interventions based on trauma type and personality

Keywords

Post-traumatic stress disorder, online intervention,post-traumatic growth

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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.26549/jams.v9i1.39105