How "Supportive" Is Internet-Based Supportive Psychotherapy?

How "Supportive" Is Internet-Based Supportive Psychotherapy?
JOHN C. MARKOWITZ, M.D.
New York, N.Y.
To the Editor: In their article, published in the November 2007 issue of the Journal, Brett T. Litz, Ph.D., et al. presented thought-provoking preliminary data on Internet-assisted, cognitive behavioral self-management of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms (1). In a report that emphasized technology and downplayed human contact, however, it might have been helpful to clarify certain details pertaining to the control intervention. A randomized study is only as credible as its control intervention, which raises conundrums. What exactly is Internet supportive counseling—the control condition—in this trial? Furthermore, how much therapist contact did subjects actually receive?
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http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/165/4/534

I am not a psychologist or a therapist but I can tell you that this is necessary to fill in the gaps. They need to be helped as soon as they want it.

My role has been to provide the knowledge of what PTSD is as simply as possible, get them past the stigma of having it so they don't think it's their fault and then send them to get the help they need. With the VA overloaded and rural area veterans waiting too long for help, this kind of intervention is crucial to saving their lives. As soon as they begin to seek help, PTSD stops getting worse.

If they turn to the clergy, the clergy need to be there to help them. If they turn to suicide prevention phone calls, they better be there to help them and not tell the veteran they need to call back or wait for help. Everyone able to help needs to help them as soon as they can. The role of the online therapist cannot replace seeing someone face to face but given the fact some veterans need the anonymity online help offers, they should do it. We all have to understand that there is just not enough room for everyone needing help to get it and until there is, this will require whatever we can offer all of them.