Web-Based Treatment for PTSD
Reductions in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression among military service members were greater with an 8-week program of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) delivered over the Internet than with Internet-based supportive counseling. Of 24 patients randomly assigned to online CBT, 25% no longer had a PTSD diagnosis after treatment or at 6-month follow-up, compared to 5% after treatment and 3% at 6 months for those assigned to online supportive counseling. Litz et al. (CME, p. 1676) present details of DE-STRESS (DElivery of Self-TRaining and Education for Stressful Situations). Each patient had an initial face-to-face interview with a therapist and was allowed telephone and e-mail contacts during treatment. The web program included symptom ratings, CBT content, and homework assignments. Dr. Ruth Lanius relates these findings to the complexity of PTSD in an editorial on p. 1628.
http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/164/11/A42
You know I'm a believer in helping them on line, but this study was very small. I think it does offer hope that on-line help does in fact help. Even the tiny bit I do, at least gets them to the point where they are willing to go for help. Once they open up, they begin to feel better about themselves and have more hope once they understand what PTSD is. Given the fact the VA and the DOD are so far behind on playing catch up, this needs all the fresh, new ideas it can get. I do know that if the net was available when they came home from Vietnam, you wouldn't have had them suffering while walking around for over 30 years without knowing what it was. The support system is a great tool for them to cope and heal.
